The magic of classical music resonates on Royan beach

50,000 spectators gather on the Grande Conche beach for the 32nd edition of the Un violon sur le sable festival.

Lying on a towel or on a deckchair, aperitif in hand, thousands of spectators are wedged on the beach of the Grande Conche. Not for a date with the sun, but to attend the 32nd edition ofA violin on the sand. A festival accessible to all until July 28, 2024.

In total, 50,000 spectators came to admire the 75 artists on stage. At 10 p.m., the musicians make the sea air vibrate. From the first notes of music, time stands still. Sitting comfortably on the sand, the silent spectators are captivated, almost bewitched by the melodies of the violins. “The fact that it’s on the beach like this, there’s a real feeling of freedom. The environment of the music resonates everywhere, it’s magical,” says a spectator. The tenors of classical music follow one another for two hours of concert.

Feet in the sand, far from the usual operas, the festival A violin on the sand breaks the codes. The goal is to reach more people, as explained by Jérôme Pillement, conductor present every year: “I liven up the festival with a good dose of anecdotes to make the public understand that Mozart, for example, was someone like you and me. Some artists are no longer alive, but classical music is and it does not belong to an elite, but to everyone.” And perhaps this is the recipe for success.A violin on the sand.

This festival proves every year that classical music can reinvent itself, democratize itself, and reach all audiences, even outside of traditional concert halls. There are only a few days left to let yourself be enchanted by these magical summer melodies.

A violin on the sand festival.

Classical music for all until July 27, 2024 on the Grande Conche beach in Royan. Ticket office.