Festival Passions Baroques

From intimate concerts and grand musical frescoes to a family-friendly lyrical tale, a Baroque ball, an exhibition, and a lecture... the program features a highlight performance by Amandine Beyer and her ensemble, Gli Incogniti, celebrating twenty years of musical adventures. The festival concludes with Handel’s *Messiah*—a pinnacle of the Baroque repertoire—and also includes the 40th-anniversary concert of *Les Passions*. Festival Highlights Thursday, October 1 – 3:30 PM – Ancien Collège, Montauban Jean-Marc Andrieu Lecture: "Baroque Music in All Its Forms" – In partnership with the *Université de tous les âges* (University for All Ages) In connection with the programming for the 2026 festival, Jean-Marc Andrieu will offer listening insights and historical context to help audiences better appreciate this music. /////////////////////////////////////////////// Saturday, October 3 – 11:44 AM (The Town Crier’s time!) – Maison du Crieur, Montauban Opening of the "Stage Costumes" exhibition Exhibition runs from Friday, October 2 to Saturday, October 31 /////////////////////////////////////////////// Saturday, October 3 – 3:00 PM & 4:30 PM – Musée Ingres Bourdelle, Montauban Saturday, October 3 – 8:30 PM – Gibiniargues Church, Puycornet Trio Passeggiata A Journey through Baroque Europe Cécile Bricault, violin Alice Meier, transverse flute Timothé Bougon, theorbo and vocals A musical exploration of Europe envisioned by this talented young trio, featuring the most popular and influential composers of the 17th and 18th centuries. /////////////////////////////////////////////// Sunday, October 4 – 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM – Belleperche Abbey, Cordes-Tolosannes La Main Harmonique By Starlight Nadia Lavoyer, soprano Judith Derouin, soprano Frédéric Bétous, alto Guillaume Guttiérrez, tenor Jeroen Bredewold, bass Claudio Monteverdi and his contemporaries drew upon the poetic imagination of their era to depict the torments of love through music. For this new production, the five singers of La Main Harmonique perform Renaissance works with virtuosity, alongside contemporary pieces by today’s composers. /////////////////////////////////////////////// Monday, October 5 – 5:00 PM – Ancien Collège, Montauban Claire Montiel & Jean-Marc Andrieu Lecture: "Reasons for the Journey" – Presented by the Montauban Academy From antiquity to the present day—whether known as troubadours, trouvères, or traveling players—these cultural voyagers have shared works both great and small with the public, enriching the collective imagination. J.-M. Andrieu will recount the travels of *Les Passions* in Bolivia. /////////////////////////////////////////////// Thursday, October 8 – 8:30 PM – Théâtre Olympe de Gouges, Montauban Part of the Montauban performing arts venues' cultural season Les Passions Handel’s Finest Arias – Les Passions Anniversary Concert Julia Wischniewski, soprano Jean-Marc Andrieu, recorder and conductor 10 musicians An anniversary concert celebrating four decades of passion and excellence! /////////////////////////////////////////////// Friday, October 9 – 8:30 PM – Théâtre Olympe de Gouges, Montauban Gli Incogniti "Per li Cogliono," Vivaldi *a piacere* – A 2026 PREMIERE marking Gli Incogniti’s 20th anniversary Amandine Beyer, violin and conductor 9 musicians Vivaldi takes center stage! Through Byzantine flavors, virtuosic trances, anecdotes, and improvisational games, the ensemble Gli Incogniti invites you to discover what Vivaldi’s music truly aspires to be: something else entirely! The hundreds of works by this creative genius—an icon of the Baroque era—constantly reshuffle the deck, moving from theater to church, from palace to garden or tavern. Expect joy, a sonic explosion, and spirited energy from musicians at the peak of their craft. /////////////////////////////////////////////// Saturday, October 10 – 4:00 PM – Courtyard of the Musée Ingres Bourdelle, Montauban Compagnie Divertimenty Baroque Ball FOR ALL AGES – FREE Guillaume Jablonka, choreographer and dancer Ball accompanied by 4 musicians from Les Passions Guillaume Jablonka serves as the dance master for this festive, playful, and joyful event where everyone can give in to the sheer pleasure of dancing! The ball is followed by a friendly social gathering over drinks. /////////////////////////////////////////////// Sunday, October 11 – 11:00 AM – Théâtre Olympe de Gouges, Montauban Compagnie Tel jour telle nuit The Song of Orpheus A LYRICAL TALE FOR CHILDREN AGED 6+ AND THEIR FAMILIES Marie-Bénédicte Souquet, vocals and viola da gamba Orpheus meets Eurydice and falls madly in love with her. On their wedding day, Eurydice dies. To find her again, Orpheus journeys to the Underworld and defies all prohibitions. This myth explores themes of love, courage, trust, and doubt. Performing solo, M.B. Souquet has selected operatic arias by Monteverdi, Purcell, and Gluck. The performance consists of two parts: the lyrical tale itself and a playful, dramatized discussion. /////////////////////////////////////////////// Sunday, October 11 – 4:00 PM – Saint-Jacques Church, Montauban Chœur Régional d’Auvergne & Les Passions Handel’s *Messiah* Soloists: Alice Ungerer (soprano), Sylvain Manet (alto), Davy Cornillot (tenor), Romain Bockler (bass) 50 choir members Blaise Plumettaz, conductor 17 musicians Recognized as a Baroque masterpiece since its premiere in 1741, Handel’s *Messiah* continues to inspire wonder. Much like a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, one never tires of admiring this unique musical work—a "musical *Mona Lisa*" of profound humanity that captivates the listener.