Angers Pianopolis

4th Edition — May 13 to 17, 2026

Angers Pianopolis celebrated its 4th edition from May 13 to 17, 2026. For five days, the piano took over the city in about ten heritage and public venues, attracting over 8,600 spectators. The program included: classical, jazz, opera, cine-concerts, film music, concert-readings, and a traveling piano by bike in several neighborhoods.

Headliners

Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński, accompanied by pianist Michał Biel, performed at the Greniers Saint-Jean on May 15 with a program featuring Handel, Purcell, and Polish composers (Karłowicz, Baird).

Pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja, a figure of the Russian-Soviet school, paid tribute to Vienna on May 16 at the Greniers Saint-Jean (Mozart, Schubert, Berg, Webern).

Pianist Tanguy de Williencourt closed the festival on May 17 at the Centre de Congrès Jean-Monnier, conducting the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire himself in Beethoven's Sonata No. 23 «Appassionata», Chopin's Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante, and Piano Concerto No. 2.

Cinema, Jazz, Young Audience, and Creation

The festival opened on May 13 with a cine-concert at cinéma Les 400 Coups: Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail accompanied on piano by Jean-Baptiste Doulcet. At the Abbaye du Ronceray (reopened after restoration), a «Soirée chez les Schumann» brought together mezzo-soprano Delphine Haidan, actress Julie Depardieu, and pianist Dana Ciocarlie. The jazz duo Baptiste Trotignon — Thomas Enhco performed at the Greniers Saint-Jean. Gabriel Durliat offered an immersive experience «From Bach to Tolkien» at the musée Jean-Lurçat. For young audiences, the musical tale The King Who Didn't Like Music by Karol Beffa and the musical nap «Piano-chill» by DJ Eddy Sco set the rhythm for Sunday.

Traveling Piano and Pianopolis Challenge

German pianist Björn Gottschall toured the city with his piano on a bike (ten free outdoor concerts: Archipel, Gare, Jardin Larrey, etc.). The Pianopolis Challenge fulfilled its promise as a springboard for amateur pianists and young prodigies selected via social media.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 — Opening

• Opening Cine-concert — Cinéma Les 400 Coups · Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail accompanied on piano by Jean-Baptiste Doulcet, followed by a discussion with the audience.
• Traveling Piano by Bike — Various locations (Archipel, Gare, Jardin Larrey…) · Björn Gottschall, German pianist · Free.

Thursday, May 14, 2026 — Abbaye du Ronceray

• Marielle Dechaume & Jacques Montembault — Abbaye du Ronceray · Voice & piano recital.
• oda. (Anna Bozovic & Théo Noël-Apperry) — Abbaye du Ronceray · Contemporary voice-piano duo.
• CJ Beth — Abbaye du Ronceray · Soul voice.

Friday, May 15, 2026 — Greniers Saint-Jean

• 8:00 PM — Jakub Józef Orliński (countertenor) & Michał Biel (piano) · Greniers Saint-Jean · Program: Handel, Purcell, Polish composers (Karłowicz, Baird).

Saturday, May 16, 2026 — Musée Jean-Lurçat, Ronceray, Greniers Saint-Jean

• The Music of Julie Depardieu — Jardin du musée Jean-Lurçat · Meeting with actress Julie Depardieu about her lyrical passions, in dialogue with writer Jean-Yves Clément.
• Gabriel Durliat — Musée Jean-Lurçat · Immersive experience «From Bach to Tolkien».
• The Story Piano — Bibliothèque municipale Annie-Fratellini · Musical reading for young audiences.
• 3:00 PM — An Evening with the Schumanns · Abbaye du Ronceray · Delphine Haidan (mezzo-soprano), Julie Depardieu (narrator), Dana Ciocarlie (piano).
• Elisabeth Leonskaja Recital — Greniers Saint-Jean · Mozart, Schubert, Berg, Webern · Tribute to Vienna.
• Baptiste Trotignon & Thomas Enhco — Greniers Saint-Jean · Jazz duo with two pianos.

Sunday, May 17, 2026 — Closing

• The King Who Didn't Like Music — Musical tale for young audiences by Karol Beffa.
• Jazz Showcase with students from the Conservatoire d'Angers.
• Piano-chill — Musical nap by DJ Eddy Sco.
• «Alors on danse» — Dance workshop at the Jardin des Plantes.
• Closing Concert — Centre de Congrès Jean-Monnier · Tanguy de Williencourt (piano and conductor) & Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire · Beethoven: Sonata No. 23 «Appassionata» · Chopin: Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante, Piano Concerto No. 2.

Throughout the festival

• Traveling Piano by Bike with Björn Gottschall — ten free outdoor concerts in different neighborhoods of Angers.
• Pianopolis Challenge — Springboard for amateur, self-taught, and young prodigy pianists (selection via social media).

Highlights of the 2026 Edition

• Over 8,600 spectators over the five days of the festival
• Jakub Józef Orliński & Michał Biel at Greniers Saint-Jean (May 15, Handel/Purcell/Polish composers)
• Elisabeth Leonskaja: tribute to Vienna at Greniers Saint-Jean (May 16)
• Tanguy de Williencourt conducts the ONPL — Chopin and Beethoven for the closing (May 17)
• An Evening with the Schumanns with Delphine Haidan, Julie Depardieu, and Dana Ciocarlie at the Abbaye du Ronceray (May 16)
• Opening Cine-concert: Hitchcock's Blackmail by Jean-Baptiste Doulcet (May 13)
• Jazz duo Trotignon — Enhco at Greniers Saint-Jean (May 16)
• Pianopolis Challenge and ten free concerts by Björn Gottschall's traveling piano by bike

Practical Information

Main Venue

Greniers Saint-Jean, boulevard Arago, 49000 Angers.

Other Venues

Abbaye du Ronceray, place de la Laiterie, 49000 Angers (reopening after restoration in 2026).

Jardin du musée Jean-Lurçat et de la Tapisserie contemporaine, 4 boulevard Arago, 49000 Angers.

Cinéma Les 400 Coups, 12 rue Claveau, 49000 Angers.

Centre de Congrès Jean-Monnier, 33 boulevard Carnot, 49100 Angers (closing concert with the ONPL).

Place Ney, Parc Balzac, Bibliothèque municipale Annie-Fratellini, Jardin des Plantes and several locations featuring the itinerant bicycle piano (Archipel, Gare, Jardin Larrey…).

Ticketing

Online: billetterietheatres.angers.fr.

Box office: Grand-Théâtre d'Angers, place du Ralliement, Tuesday to Saturday from 1:30 PM to 6 PM.

Phone: 02 41 24 16 40, Tuesday to Saturday from 10 AM to 12 PM.

Reduced rate granted for 3 or more concerts purchased.

Accessibility

Information and arrangements: 06 20 67 84 61 or [email protected].

Prices

Four categories depending on the concerts (A, B, C, D), from 3 € (very reduced rate or -26 years old last minute) to 35 € (full price category D). Some outdoor concerts and the itinerant piano concerts are free.