On 6 October it is “The Legend of Orpheus”, with the Ensemble Barcarole under the direction of Agnès Mellon, while on the following day Monteverdi’s Orfeo is directed by Jean Tubéry, with his Ensemble La Fenice and the Namur Chamber Choir. October 13 brings a programme entitled “The Treasure of Orpheus” with works by Couperin, Lejeune and Boesset with Ensemble l’Amoroso and Guido Balestracci as director, while on next day is devoted to “The Myth of Orpheus”, with works by Monteverdi, Rossi, Albinoni, Scarlatti, Lully and Rameau, performed by Les Folies Françoises under the direction of Patrick Cohen-Akenine.

Meanwhile, five concerts and one lecture are planned for the theme of violin virtuosity: Alice Piérot and Florence Malgoire offer a programme centred on French sonata composers (29 September); Hélène Schmitt will perform works by Corelli, Pandolfi and Vitali (20 October); and the Ensemble Stradivaria will offer a program entitled “A tre violini” (21 October). And addressing “pleasures and music”, the festival boasts four concerts, two shows and a series of lectures and films.

Along with these big events organizers have scheduled major concerts, highlights of which include the Missa Santissimae Trinitatis by Jean-Dismas Zelenka, performed by the Ensemble Musica Florea of Prague (15 September) and Vincent Dumestre’s Le Poème Harmonique giving its new production, “Sad Spain without Fortune”, created especially for this festival. It focuses on the splendours of the Catholic liturgy in Spain in the 17th century (30 September).

Another big moment in the festival is the opening concert of Renaissance music given by Doulce Mémoire directed by Denis Raisin-Dadre. Biber’s “Mystery” Sonatas will be performed in two programmes by the Ensemble Ausonia on the 27th and 28th of September. From 27 August to 1 September, courses in Baroque theatre, gesture and song will be given by Jean-Denis Monory, Bastien Ossart and Jérôme Corréas.