FESTIVALS 2018 THE GUIDE


Clockwise from top left: Festival 1001 Notes; MIMOS (see page 145); Gary Clark Jr will play in Paris as part of the Fête Nationale celebrations; Berck-sur-Mer Kite Festival


for easy grub on certain days – music to anyone’s ears! www.festival1001notes.com


Festival d’Aix-en-Provence July 4-24, 2018


Every year since 1948, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence has been a magnet for opera fans. Drawing more than 80,000 spectators to its musical nights beneath the stars, it boasts a stellar programme of Mozart operas and early works, Baroque masterpieces, chamber orchestra, and an exceptional series of concerts. This year marks the event’s 70th anniversary, to be celebrated in style with acclaimed operas such as Prokofiev’s The Fiery Angel and a world premiere of Seven Stones by Ondrej Adámek, to name but two. www.festival-aix.com


Festival de la Chaise-Dieu August 18-28, 2018 Every summer’s end since 1966, the Festival de La Chaise-Dieu has been attracting thousands of music lovers and internationally renowned artists to the heart of the Haute-Loire uplands – the ‘Midi de l’Auvergne’ – and the small village of Chaise-Dieu, with its majestic Gothic abbey. Offering a vibrant atmosphere charged with spirituality and warmth, the festival runs a programme of vocal and instrumental ensembles, soloists and orchestras. www.chaise-dieu.com


Festival International de Colmar July 4-14, 2018


A chocolate-box vision of half-timbered homes and cobbled streets, the pretty


Alsatian town of Colmar is a fairy-tale scene. This year voted third in Europe’s Best Destinations list, it’s the place to be in 2018. All the more reason, then, to mosey on over to its annual classical music festival, which celebrates the best of the best. Giving the floor to established musicians and rising stars, the 30th edition promises 22 concerts, with a special focus on pianist Evgeny Kissin. www.festival-colmar.com


Festival Jazz en Ville Vannes July 25-28, 2018


July comes around with a swing in Vannes, when the town is flooded with the sound of New Orleans. Outside the ramparts or inside cosy bars, everyone can listen to the syncopated beats and imaginative improvisations for free. From 2pm to 1am,


there’s only one rule in town: roam and listen. There’s a chance to meet the performers at the ‘QG artistique’ area, where you’ll also find educational workshops, while the ‘Tremplin National’ event puts new talent in the spotlight. www.festivaljazzenville.fr


Festival Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo March 15 – April 7, 2019 No, technically Monaco is not part of France. But it is home to some unmissable festivals and it is easily accessed from Nice. Monte-Carlo’s classical springtime bash is one such occasion, celebrating the work of acclaimed composers through history, from Mozart to Ives, as well as bringing rarely- performed operas to the stage. Boasting an enviable position ❯❯


Jun/Jul 2018 FRANCE TODAY ❘ 141


IMAGES © BERCK-SUR-MER, VINCENT PONTET, C MOUTON, DAVID RUANO, JOEY MARTINEZ


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