Nice Premium: Sandrine Aubertin, tell us about the adventure Atlantéa 2013, From the Sphinx to Atlantis?
Sandrine Aubertin: It’s the story of a researcher passionate about lost civilizations who stumbles upon the revelations of Edgard Cayce (a very renowned American medium) and makes a connection between Atlantis and Egypt. It seems that beneath the Sphinx lies a chamber that holds the secrets of the Atlanteans. He then decides to uncover the secret and discovers the true story of Atlantis, our real origins, and especially why this people went as far as their own destruction. The core message of the project “when you play too much with nature, it will eventually rebel” becomes clear as Eluan uncovers the secret of the Atlanteans and draws a guiding thread highlighting themes like sustainable development.
NP: A small peculiarity, the majority of the artists are from the Nice region, aren’t they?
Sandrine Aubertin: Yes, absolutely. Starting with the people from Nice: The performers: Céline Mellano, Julien Zaïna, and Elodie Klauder. The dancers: Célia Gullino, Mickaël Guyomard, Mégan Giatti, and Mélanie Medved. The photographer Richard Zanca is also from Nice. Our patron Nathalie Battistelli. My associate in the label C Du Lourd, Laurent Zedda as well. The president of the 1901 non-profit association Sandrine Bongiovanni is also from Nice. The choreographer, Laurence Filippi. We can mostly say that it’s a 99% South of France comedy. I am myself from the Var region, as is my other associate Nathalie Balbo. The composer is from Montélimar. Mathilde Chardon, a performer, is also from Montélimar. We have Mateo Fernandez, a Belgian who has just relocated to Aix en Provence. Only Joffrey Boulanger is left in Amiens…but I think he will soon join us in the south. We are lucky to have a beautiful region, and the goal is also to prove that you can succeed elsewhere than in Paris. With the label C Du Lourd, we would like to make music live differently.
NP: What has been your program so far, and when is a performance scheduled on a Nice stage?
Sandrine Aubertin: In October 2009, we released the black album of Atlantéa 2013 and held a presentation showcase at the Gaude at the “le cigalon” restaurant. The album was well received. We then launched the label C Du Lourd right after. We wanted to release a more refined album, so we went back into the studio in Toulon. The White album has just been born. We had a first presentation performance of the white album on April 10, 2010, in Savines-le-Lac. Then on May 1, we performed in a full house in Peillon with a very warm reception from the first deputy Guy Anelli. We are negotiating for other performances around Nice and in Nice itself. We will present 4 or 5 tracks from the white album of Atlantéa 2013, released on April 10, 2010, during the Nice tennis open on May 21, 2010. The project is starting to gain momentum, and the people of Nice are really helping us with it.
NP: How was this project born and what were the important steps to get onto the stage?
Sandrine Aubertin: This adventure began in 2005. Passionate about lost civilizations, I had the idea to write a musical recounting the history of Atlantis. I wrote the script of 32 texts in 2 months. I submitted it to several composers until I met Eric Miller (composer/arranger) who musically did what I was expecting. I only presented the idea to him in 2008 after a long search. And then, I gathered the artists around this project. I practically knew all the artists part of the project today from previously working with them as a lyricist, so some singers were obvious choices. The role of Lahtania, for example, was tailor-made for Céline Mellano, with whom I have collaborated for almost 6 years.
We recorded the first album of Atlantéa 2013 in September 2009 at Eric Miller’s Studio, where the artists got to know each other. They spent an entire week together in Montélimar, and a true chemistry was born among them. Since then, Atlantéa 2013 has become a human adventure and that’s really what I wanted above all.
People eventually started believing in us, and we got onto the stage like that. There are people who propel this project forward like Joëlle Pierache, our patron Nathalie Battistelli, and also our sponsor, none other than Mr. Rémy Julienne… A famous stuntman… known for his participation in over 1400 films… We couldn’t have dreamed of anyone better than him. He is a genuine person and a very beautiful encounter for the entire Atlantéa 2013 troupe.
NP: Any projects in the pipeline for Atlantéa 2013?
Sandrine Aubertin: The goal of Atlantéa 2013 – From the Sphinx to Atlantis is now to become known and hit big stages. For that, we need to get on national radio stations, and make TV appearances to be seen and heard. The public has the final say. With the creation of Label C Du Lourd, we handle the publishing and production of the CD, but now we need to find the right producer who can give a real boost to this musical by launching it on big stages because currently, ATLANTEA 2013 helps us get on smaller stages until we get sufficiently noticed.
NP: And finally, From the Sphinx to Atlantis… and after?
Sandrine Aubertin: And after… other ventures like writing the screenplay of Atlantéa 2013. Maybe another musical, already written… Surely the release of some artists from the troupe that we’ve signed… And after… life will be the only judge…
The site: https://www.atlantea2013.com
