Barcelonnette Classical Music Biennial

An Ensemble of Excellence in Alpine Residence

Since 2004, the Barcelonnette Classical Music Biennial has hosted the Gradus Ad Musicam Choir and Orchestra (GAM) every two years. This ensemble, founded in 1982 in Nancy by François Legée, brings together nearly 150 musicians—singers and instrumentalists, notably from the Nancy Philharmonic Orchestra—and has given over 2,000 concerts in France and abroad. Every even-numbered summer, a selection of its best members takes up residence in Barcelonnette for a week of intensive rehearsals, workshops, and public concerts.

Concerts in Heritage Venues

Concerts are mainly held in the Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens church, a neo-Romanesque building constructed in 1927 on Place Saint-Pierre, whose remarkable acoustics are perfectly suited to choral and orchestral repertoire. The El Zócalo theatre, an intimate venue located in the historic center of Barcelonnette, hosts chamber concerts, recitals, and "musical crossroads," moments for artists and the public to connect. The church in Jausiers, a neighboring commune, also hosts concerts during certain editions.

A Demanding and Eclectic Program

The Biennial's program blends major works from the sacred and symphonic repertoire with musical discoveries. Previous editions have featured works by Mozart (Great Mass in C, Piano Concertos), Bach (Concerto for Oboe and Violin), Vivaldi, Monteverdi (Vespers of the Blessed Virgin), Beethoven (4th Piano Concerto), Dvorak (Stabat Mater), Schumann (Cello Concerto), Chopin, Mendelssohn (Violin Concerto), Bruch (Romance for Viola), Duruflé (Requiem), and Philippe Hersant (Métamorphoses). Internationally renowned soloists perform alongside the ensemble, including pianist Elise Delecray, cornettist William Dongois, and pianist Jeffrey Nau.

Workshops and Masterclasses

Beyond concerts, the Biennial offers musical practice workshops open to amateur and experienced musicians: orchestra workshops (strings, winds, brass), vocal workshops, individual vocal technique, and jazz improvisation workshops for instrumentalists and singers. Masterclasses led by guest soloists complete the program, offering the public a full immersion into the world of classical music.

A Festival Rooted in the Ubaye Valley

The Biennial is fully integrated into the summer cultural landscape of the Ubaye valley, alongside the Latino-Mexican Festivals and the Festival de la Voix. It contributes to the artistic rayonnement of Barcelonnette, a mountain town with a rich architectural heritage marked by the history of emigration to Mexico. The exceptional alpine setting—between the Mercantour National Park and the legendary passes of Bonette and Cayolle—offers festival-goers a stay combining musical pleasures and the discovery of the Provençal high mountains.