The Saint-Yrieix Music Festival is reinventing itself to attract new audiences

After forty-one years of “pure” classical music, the Saint-Yrieix Festival is opening up to new musical genres. The goal: to make instrumental concerts accessible to a wider audience.

After four decades of success, the Saint-Yrieix Music Festival (Limousin), which runs until September 29, 2024, is opening up to unexpected repertoires.

A series of four events, throughout the year, offers a diverse range of styles, eras and instrumental formations. The ambition of this revival is to democratize concerts and other musical events in rural areas.

During the first evening, on August 17, the spectators were transported by emblematic works of the lyrical repertoire, notably La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi. Charlotte Bonnet, a talented soprano who performed the famous opera, explains how she prepared for this performance: “We must choose what best highlights our voices and repertoires while pleasing the general public, by mixing accessible works with others, less known, but just as appreciated.“.

Accompanied by the choir director of Limoges on the piano, Charlotte Bonnet captivated the audience during this evening called “Tous à l’opéra!”. This approach reflects a desire to bring lyrical art closer to local populations. A value shared by her singing partner, tenor Olivier Montmory: “We are very happy to work from home. Living in the region, it is important for us to perform here, to address the locals and to make them want to discover the theater.”

The two new co-presidents of the festival, Jean-Pascal Bigot and Jean-Pierre Ferle, are behind this turning point: “We have taken over by trying to expand the festival with new genres of music, and that is why we will even include jazz,” confides Jean Pascal Bigot. But don’t let the usual spectators be scared, classical music remains at the heart of the festival.

The next concert, to the rhythm of jazz, is scheduled for September 20, marking the first in a series of four events. From the open stage to young talents, baroque, bohemian or even classical cinema music, the different genres are to be discovered until September 29, 2024 during the Saint-Yrieix Music Festival. Tickets.