So, what’s going down?
In 2021, there will be exhibitions, concerts, conference, talks, and general-public events of literally all shapes and sizes.
The “Big Year” opens with two exceptional concerts entitled “The Triumph of Napoleon” held at the cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides, a Fondation Napoléon and Musée de l’Armée partnership. The latter institution is also putting the boat out with a year-long series of events including: an exhibition on Napoleon’s death (31 March-19 September), a program of concerts, an academic conference (7, 8 and 9 April), talks, contemporary art exhibitions, and a writers’ workshop, etc.
Other exhibitions are planned. In March, the Archives Nationales will be exhibiting the results of their campaign to restore the drawings, maps and plans made for Napoleon (financed by our international appeal). In the autumn, the Mobilier National will be presenting Napoleon’s “lost palaces”. The Maison Chaumet is to turn its attention to Josephine. Malmaison will be highlighting its St Helena collection. The Château de Fontainebleau will be following Malmaison’s lead with its similarly magnificent collection of St Helena memorabilia. And the SHD is to show little-known aspects of the Napoleonic campaigns. There is also talk of a huge “general public” exhibition on Napoleon in the large venue in Paris that two years ago held a very large exhibition on the treasures of Tutankhamun. There are to be conferences and study days at the university institution, SciencePo Grenoble, in the Seine-et-Marne département, at the BnF, at the Fondation Dosne-Thiers, at the Institut Catholique de Vendée, and in many other places besides. Lastly, the Paris conference centre, the Palais des Congrès, will echo to sound of Napoleonic slam and rap(!), organised by the creator of the mega productions, the Dix commandements and the Roi-Soleil, and throughout France, major venues will host the symphonic version of Serge Lama’s musical Napoléon. The end of the year (September 2021) will be lit up by exceptionally spectacular “Journées impériales” (Empire Days) in Rueil-Malmaison.
In September 2020, we will be placing full details for all of these events (times, places, how to sign up, etc.) on our institutional website, fondationnapoleon.org. So, faithful newsletter readers, don’t forget to have your diary ready when we come back after the summer.
We’re telling it to you straight. 2021 will be “Napoleon Year”!
Thierry Lentz
Directeur de la Fondation Napoléon