© Nicolas Sartore
The prosperous town of Menton, close to the border to Italy at the French Côte d'Azur has built up a reputation for her festival and products a really high quality music one. Since 65 years, well known national and international musicians are invited to perform at the stunning location in front of the baroque Saint Michael Church. Embedded in this little square, growing up the stairs of the lovely medieval city this open air concert hall offers a very good accoustic and an unforgetable view on the harbour and open seaside. The numerous lights of the coastline, the full moon glittering on the waves constitute a perfect background to the classical music of baroque up to romantic and modern times.
It is a mixture of song recitals, soloist and chamber concerts as well as small ensemble performances. Over 2 weeks in august the festival offers encounters with famous operasingers as the Polish tenor Piotr Bezcala, home to the leading opera stages in Vienna, New York, Paris or Milan or Soprano Simone Kermes with her impressive performances of baroque castrate arias. Once more it offers an opportunity to listen and to assist to the Duo Igudesman and Joo. These two great musicians combine high quality played music with slapstick and humoresque performances. The music flows harmoniously from Rachmaninoff to tango, from Gershwin to Jazz. Cabaret like interludes make a Steinways to an electronic media on demand, pay as you play. It is a series of little sketches based on classical music which softly find together and fulfill the demands of a sophisticated audience for classical music and high level entertainment.
French pianist Alexandre Tharaud and Argentine cellist Sol Gabetta bring back baroque music to this baroque environment with works by Johann Sebastian and Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach, celebrating his 300th anniversary this year.
It is the mix of music and performers, the impressive romantic spot where it takes place, the mediterenean air and atmosphere making this festival worth the visit.
the 27 of August, 2014 | Print
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