The eighth edition of the Nice Classical Music Festival will take place at the Monastery of Cimiez, from July 22 to August 9. An exceptional event in a unique location, for both regulars and newcomers.
Musical excellence. Heritage. Environmental awareness. And no less than twenty-one concerts from July 22 to August 9. All at the heart of a heritage gem, usually closed to the public: the Cloister of the Monastery of Cimiez. Classical, contemporary, dance, the program is rich and varied. A festival deemed to have a “quality equivalent to all other festivals“, as proudly stated by its artistic director Marie-Josèphe Jude, who is also the president of the Académie Internationale d’Été de Nice. In other words, a musical event not to be missed.
The Program
For this 2025 edition, the programming spans “three to four centuries“, explains Marie-Josèphe Jude. “Each year, it’s like solving a puzzle, and this year, we’ve oriented the repertoire towards nature, water as much as possible. Of course, it’s not exclusively about that, but it’s the guiding theme,” she continued. This eighth edition of the Nice Classic Festival is themed around the oceans, in the midst of the Year of the Sea and just weeks after the United Nations Conference on the Ocean in Nice.
And even if a blue carpet (not red) will be laid out for the occasion, purists can rest assured: the timeless classics will be present. “There are both well-known works like Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Schumann, but also works that haven’t gained as much notable exposure. It was interesting to include these in the program“, explained the artistic director of the Nice Classic Festival.
The opening night on July 22 will be dedicated to a concert with three pianos. A novel journey that Marie-Josèphe Jude wanted: “I absolutely wanted this to open the festival.” On August 3, the audience will have the pleasure of listening to the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra. On August 5, there will be a guitar recital. Not forgetting the piano night on August 8. Students of the Académie Internationale d’Été de Nice will also be showcased, with presentations of their work every Saturday. “We wanted to give them the same stage as us. These are their first steps, it’s important for them“, explains Marie-Josèphe Jude.
To see the complete program, visit the Nice Classic Festival website.
The Cloister of the Monastery of Cimiez: An Exceptional Venue
What gives this Nice classical music festival its fame is its location: the Cloister of the Monastery of Cimiez, overlooking the Bay of Angels and neighboring the Cimiez Arena. It is the only time of the year when access is granted, as the monks are still active in the monastery. A true privilege. “We come to listen to concerts but also to discover a heritage” says the artistic director of the festival. 400 seats are available in the cloister. Another unique aspect of this place is its acoustics, considered exceptional. A place that enhances artists’ performances.
Midday concerts will also be offered, but this time in the auditorium of the Matisse Museum. With 60 seats, spectators can enjoy unforgettable musical moments in an intimate setting.
An Event to Please Everyone
The novelty for this year 2025 is the festival’s inclusion in the “cultural zero waste” initiative. Focused on water management, the event will feature fountains, offer drinks in eco-cups, and even provide water bottles.
On the practical side, the public can enjoy on-site dining and benefit from reserved parking in front of the monastery. The ticket office is already open online, and it will also be possible to purchase tickets on-site one hour before each concert begins. Note that the concerts are free for those under twenty-five years of age.
For those unable to attend in person: student concerts and the three Saturday concerts will be streamed live on YouTube via the Académie Internationale d’Été de Nice’s channel and on Twitch Music. The Nice Classic Festival stands as a must-attend event of the summer.
