There is hardly a more beautiful summer festival venue than Menton. Perched above the sea, dominated by the facade and bell tower of a marvelous Baroque church, protected by the age-old sword of the statue of Saint Michael and covered by the starlit sky, the festival has welcomed the world’s greatest classical artists for over sixty years. Created by André Borocz, directed by Paul Emmanuel Thomas, the Menton festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious in Europe.
Climbing the steps leading from the Old Port to the forecourt of the Basilica of Saint Michael on that hot August 12, 1949, André Böröcz did not yet suspect that he would encounter the perfect alchemy between the temporal and the spiritual, which is the ultimate quest of beautiful souls.
A space, a setting, a violin tune escaping from a window, a moved musician wanting to perpetuate and share the stolen moment… so was born the Menton Music Festival whose 64th edition, from August 1st to 15th, will once again be the expression of a miracle renewed in suspension above the Mediterranean tinted with gold, even at night, especially at night.
Under the stars, the spirit of the place, with acoustics so naturally perfect, is magnified by artists whose talent is equaled only by the sensitivity that allows them, here, to transcend themselves.
At the invitation of Paul-Emmanuel Thomas, now ensuring the artistic direction of one of the most prestigious events of the summer on the Riviera, the artists who have already been honored at the Festival and those who will discover this magical stage, will combine styles to accompany the times.
To the concerts at Parvis Saint-Michel – “the miracle of the Parvis Saint-Michel” said André Böröcz – will be added, at 6 p.m., concerts at the Cocteau Museum, a new jewel by the sea that already has an identity, faithful to the spirit of the father of Les Enfants Terribles, who delighted in combining the intimate and the monumental.
And because music should be a celebration whose breath makes the whole town tremble, the “off” will offer free concerts at the Square des Etats-Unis and on the Frances-Palmero esplanade.
In a whirlwind of notes that mingles the stars and the sea, we invite you to taste happiness since the miracle exists and is repeated.
After the pre-opening concert of the 64th Music Festival which will take place on August 1st at 9:30 p.m. the Esplanade Palmero
Regional Choir Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur/ Michel Piquemal conducting
C. Orff Carmina Burana
the official curtain will rise the next day, August 2nd at 9:30 p.m. on the forecourt of the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel with the opening concert of the 64th Music Festival:
“Mozart Nights” with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra / Michael Hofstetter conducting Fazil Say piano Norma Nahoun soprano
W.A Mozart Symphony No. 34 in C Major, KV.338
W.A Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, KV.467
F. Say Creation for soprano, strings, and percussion op.44 based on texts from Goethe’s “West-Eastern Divan”
W.A Mozart “Ch’io mi scordi di te?… Non temer, amato bene” KV.505 concert aria for soprano, piano, and orchestra
