“This is a disaster”, breath Jean-Jacques Gendillou, mayor of the city of Thouron. Lovers of heritage and music lovers have no other words. The castle of the great austrian pianist disappeared Jörg Demus, in the heart of the commune of Haute-Vienne, is to squat. And the instruments of collection that are have been vandalised. The remains of the artist, who died in April, is left in a complete state of abandonment, reports Le Populaire du Centre .
” READ ALSO – The Louvre, the delicate removal of The mona lisa
After the loiterers, thieves have visited the castle for the dispossessing of its objects. Jean-François Julien
individuals have boned one of the instruments of the pianist before using it to make fire. The vandals also defecated on the instruments. Such a rampage gives a top-the-heart. Jörg Demus had about eighty-four harpsichords and pianos in its properties, of which twenty were in his large and elegant house of Thouron. After The Folk of the Centre , some have belonged to the composers César Franck and Claude Debussy. An exceptional heritage value, the collection of the pianist was famous for the understanding of the period instruments of the factors Conrad Graf and John Broadwood.
The castle stripped of its furniture
After the loiterers, thieves have visited the castle for the dispossessing of its objects. “I cried,” says the Popular of the Center Christophe Massé, the former guardian of the place. It is a world heritage fantastic which disappears little by little. There are infiltrations of water, the thugs have broken cabinets, stunning chandelier. They have also stolen wood that’s beautiful.” For the former employee of the maestro, this is no doubt, the pianos will eventually disappear.
Jörg Demus had about eighty-four harpsichords and pianos in its properties, of which twenty were in his home in Thouron. Jean-François Julien
“The historic Monuments, the regional directorate of cultural Affairs and the sub-prefecture have been made aware,” says mayor Jean-Jacques Gendillou. But as the castle is private, the margin of manoeuvre of the public bodies remains low. Only the front is closed, leaving the inside and outside of the protection of the State. “It is up to the new owners to come forward,” ton the mayor. They will only be able to protect the castle that was bought in 1999 by Jörg Demus.
The negligence of the new owners
The building and its ten acres of garden, estimated at a million and a half euros, are likely to have been bought by an austrian company of public buildings. Why did she still not manifested, leaving this gem to the abandonment? In Thouron, some believe that, as part of a bundle with other properties, the building is not that interested moderately.
For its part, the rcmp is not able to find the criminals. In desperation, the staff of the municipality of Thouron is attempting to monitor the distance the remains. “The media will perhaps be able to make things work”, hopes to Jean-Jacques Gendillou, who still remembers a series of recitals given by Jörg Demus for the people on the front porch. Disappointed, some of them are considering to call on Stéphane Bern, the defender of the monuments in danger. One thing is for sure, it was an emergency.
● Jörg Demus interpreting moonlight of the Suite Bergamasque of Debussy, 2017
