Concerts

Alongside its opera program, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence offers a wide and exciting range of concerts.

— OPERAS IN CONCERT VERSION
The French grand opera adventure continues with The Sicilian Vespers, featuring Karine Deshayes in her first performance as Hélène and the return of the Chœur et Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon under the baton of Daniele Rustioni. Meanwhile, the Orchestre de Paris and its musical director Klaus Mäkelä will be opening the doors of Bluebeard’s Castle, with Gerald Finley in the title role and Irene Roberts debuting in the role of Judith.

— RECITALS
At the Grand Théâtre de Provence, Sonya Yoncheva will be making her Festival debut, revisiting the world of Baroque music with Cappella Mediterranea and Leonardo García-Alarcón, while Benjamin Bernheim will be combining lyricism and poetry in a novel programme featuring Massenet, Bizet, Duparc, Puccini, Verdi, and Berlioz, with Qiaochu Li. At the Conservatoire, Michael Spyres and Matthieu Pordoy will delve into the post-Romanticism of the lieder of Wagner, Mahler and Strauss, while American singer Ailyn Pérez performs before the Aix-en-Provence audience for the first time, accompanied by Julius Drake. Also at the Conservatoire, pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard will be giving two concerts: one based around the French premiere of Mark Andre’s ...selig ist..., and the other in the form of a spatialized, strolling performance to celebrate the centenary of György Kurtág.

— SYMPHONIC CONCERTS
Under the direction of Raphaël Pichon, Pygmalion and baritone Stéphane Degout will be exploring Schubert and Brahms, focusing on symphonies and orchestrated lieder. Klangforum Wien, for its part, will be bringing together, in a “sanctuary” evening, musical creations from post-Soviet territories such as Lithuania, Georgia, Ukraine and Russia. And with its new conductor Sora Elisabeth Lee, the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra brings together different repertoires, revives the sense of community, and fosters sharing.

— CONCERTS OF THE ACADÉMIE’S RESIDENCIES
The singers of the Voice Residency will be giving two concerts: one devoted to lieder, the fruit of their work with Dorothea Röschmann, and the other to Handel, under the guidance of Leonardo García-Alarcón, of a female conductor in residence, and of Cappella Mediterranea. Meanwhile, with Pierre-Laurent Aimard, the Instrumental Residency will be putting together a bouquet of piano creations.

— JAZZ AND MEDITERRANEAN CONCERTS
Blending his Lebanese roots with classical training, tenor Karim Sulayman joins Sean Shibe in Broken Branches, mixing Monteverdi, Purcell, Britten, Middle Eastern songs and contemporary works to explore plural identities and diasporas. Layale Chaker, with her Sarafand Quintet presents Radio Afloat, between jazz, contemporary music and maqams, inspired by a “radio lost at sea”. Five Aga Khan Master Musicians meet Vincent Peirani and Vincent Ségal. Samara Joy, a Grammy-winning rising star, brings her striking voice to the Théâtre de l’Archevêché with a seven-piece band.