From July 15 to 18, the 7th International Mandolin Festival took place in Castellar. Each year, the festival invites artists from around the world to showcase the diverse possibilities of the mandolin. The aim is to promote this instrument, which has been regaining its place in orchestras over the past few years.
With a classical repertoire, the festival presented works ranging from baroque to contemporary, appealing to both informed music lovers and a broader audience. For four days, the entire village became the stage for mandolinists. The major evening concerts at 9 PM were held in the Saint-Pierre Church, a 15th-century building offering exceptional acoustics. The late afternoon concerts, on the other hand, were organized at the kiosk in the Town Hall square, shaded by plane trees. This year, the festival innovated by transforming the village square into a temporary stage that can accommodate 300 spectators.
For its 7th edition, the festival invited the “Kerman Quartet,” one of the most renowned at the moment, led by Vincent Beer-Demander, who represents the revival of the mandolin. Chris Acquavella, a regular on major American and European stages, was also present, alongside the Belarusians Natallia Korsak and Nikolaj Maretzki, patrons of the festival since its inception.
This edition was also marked by the exceptional participation of Agnès Jaoui, a famous actress, screenwriter, and director, who has been awarded several César Awards. She is also a singer leading the lyrical group Canto Allègre, which presented an original program mixing singing and mandolins. The festival’s goal was achieved by offering a 2015 program that attracted a broader audience, eager to discover concert mandolins and the FIMAC association organizing the festival.
