Venues include the abbey church of Saint Robert in La Chaise Dieu itself, as well as the churches of Ambert, Chamalières-sur-Loire and Le Puy-en-Velay, the basilica of Brioude, the theatre at Puy-en-Velay, and many other locations. Participating ensembles include Les Eléments, The Sixteen, Les Folies Françoises, the Ukraine National Philharmonic, La Chapelle Rhénane, XVIII-21, Le Baroque Nomade, the E.V.Lausanne, La Chambre Philharmonique, Pygmalion, Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu, Les Cris de Paris, Camerata Ireland, Cappella Amsterdam and l’Orchestre Français des Jeunes.

Audiences will hear works by composers ranging from Palestrina to Messaien and from Bach to Pärt in a programme that strikes a good balance between offerings devoted to lesser-known works and those that present music by the great masters. This year’s festival features two main themes, “Beethoven and the Great Symphony Composers” (Brahms, Sibelius, Mahler and Dvorak, among others) and “Requiem” (works by Campra, Gilles, Mozart, Berlioz and Bruckner).

Presentations designed to introduce audiences to selected concerts will also be given, with a series of free one-hour talks given about the works and composers. Fortepianist Cyril Huvé is the artistic director of a master class (sponsored by the Conseil Général de la Haute-Loire, the Spedidam, and the Académie de La Chaise-Dieu) in which young professionals will have a chance to explore Beethoven’s chamber works; fellow teaches are violinist Patrick Cohën Akenine and cellist François Poly, and participants will give a concert on 27 August.

The abbey church of La Chaise-Dieu houses a celebrated four-keyboard organ dating from 1779, which is particularly well suited to 17th- and 18th-century repertoire. Each concert given in the abbey will open with a piece or improvisation played on the organ by advanced students from the Paris and Lyon Conservatories. Nicolas Loth will officiate from 20 to 24 August, with Cindy Castillo taking over from 24 to 31 August.

A workshop designed for 7- to 12-year olds from the La Chaise-Dieu area will also take place from 25 to 30 August. This scheme, which is sponsored by the Caisse des Dépôts, will lead to a closing concert on the morning of 30 August.

Full details and reservations at www.chaise-dieu.com