The small town of Côte-Saint-André, located in the Alps, pays tribute to favorite son Hector Berlioz every year at the end of August. The festival runs from August 18th to September 2nd, 2018.
Born in 1803 in Côte-Saint-André, Romantic composer Hector Berlioz made music history, and his hometown is rightly proud of his international reputation. The annual Berlioz festival takes place in this small town of less than 5,000 inhabitants, located one hour south-east of Lyon.
The "Requiem", "The Childhood of Christ" and the "Berlioz Solenella Mass" on the program
The concerts are held among the surrounding churches dotting the town, whereas the Berlioz museum is located in the composer's birthplace, and in the courtyard of the Château Louis XI. On August 19th, the church of Châtenay hosts Les Psaumes de David from the Venetian Benedetto Giacomo Marcello, major composer of the Baroque period. On August 21st, Berlioz's Requiem will thrill the courtyard of the castle, which hosts an evening dedicated to the sacred legends of the North, illustrated with many excerpts of works by Wagner, the next day.
On August 25th, Berlioz's L'Enfance du Christ is performed by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Chamber Orchestra, accompanied by the Orchestre de Paris choir, while on August 28th, Berlioz's Solemn Mass that will sound, again in the courtyard of the castle.