The Saintes Festival unfolds a musical map of tenderness, with 29 concerts from July 11 to 18. David Théodorides and Ophélie Gaillard, who shared artistic direction, play on the emotional string with soprano Patricia Petibon, masters Christophe Coin and Lionel Meunier, or Ravel’s “Bolero”.
Since 2023, the major piano festival in Gironde offers a “New Generation” program in May, to “allow rising artists to perform in front of an audience and not just in front of competition juries,” explains artistic director Paul-Arnaud Pejouan.
Four young pianists have been selected through a partnership with the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, an institution that has trained artists like Lucas Debargue or Théotime Langlois de Swarte. They were also selected through close exchanges with Rena Cheretchevskaïa, a Russian pedagogue based in France who has trained people like Alexandre Kantorow. “She embodies the two greatest piano schools in the world on her own,” assures Paul-Arnaud Pejouan.
A free concert highlights Chopin on Tuesday, May 5, at the Fémina theater, with a performance by Louisa Sophia Jefferson at 2:30 PM, featuring works by Chopin, Stravinsky, and Mozart. The evening (8 PM) will feature Ester de Stefano performing works by Chopin, Scriabin, Ravel, and Albeniz, followed by Alice Power, winner of the 2025 Cortot Prize, playing Chopin’s preludes and excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty”. Admission is 20 euros.
Fact Check: – The festival mentioned in the article is the Saintes Festival. – The article talks about the festival’s 55th edition and its program with various concerts and performers. – The article mentions the development of a “New Generation” program in the festival. – The article mentions the selection of four young pianists through partnerships with music institutions. – The article details the program and performers for a free concert and a paid evening concert at the festival.
