Bel-Air Claviers Festival

Bel-Air Claviers Festival: The Infinite World of Keyboards

The Bel-Air Claviers Festival is a one-of-a-kind musical event entirely dedicated to the diversity of keyboard instruments. Founded in 2012 by the Les Rencontres Artistiques de Bel-Air association, building on fifteen years of chamber music led by violinist Renaud Capuçon, the festival found its unique identity through an original concept: exploring every facet of the keyboard, from the baroque harpsichord to the contemporary synthesizer.

Jean Rondeau: A Visionary Artistic Direction

Since 2018, harpsichordist Jean Rondeau, one of the most brilliant musicians of his generation, has served as the festival's artistic director. He is supported in this mission by percussionist Adélaïde Ferrière and composer David Chalmin. Together, they craft a program that breaks down barriers between genres and eras, creating a dialogue between baroque, classical, contemporary, and experimental music, all centered around keyboard instruments. Before them, pianist Bertrand Chamayou directed the festival from 2013 to 2018, introducing percussion keyboards, mechanical pianos, and the accordion to the program.

Keyboards in All Their Forms

The festival celebrates the keyboard family in all its diversity: grand piano, harpsichord, church organ, fortepiano, marimba, vibraphone, celesta, accordion, and electronic keyboards. This cross-disciplinary approach allows for a varied program, ranging from a baroque harpsichord recital in a church to a contemporary piano concert in a theater or an electronic performance in an unconventional space.

Exceptional Venues

The Bel-Air Claviers Festival takes place in the most beautiful cultural venues in Chambéry and La Ravoire. The Cathédrale Saint-François-de-Sales in Chambéry, with its monumental organ and exceptional acoustics, hosts sacred and baroque music concerts. The Théâtre Charles Dullin, a 19th-century Italian-style theater, provides a prestigious setting for recitals. The Maison de Bel-Air, the association's headquarters, features an intimate concert hall with about a hundred seats, perfect for chamber music programs.

A Festival of Intimacy and Influence

The Bel-Air Claviers Festival cultivates a spirit of closeness and conviviality that defines its charm. Small-scale concerts, artist meet-and-greets, and original formats—such as "dawn meditation concerts"—create a unique atmosphere where music is experienced up close with the performers. This intimate festival is gaining increasing recognition thanks to the fame of its artistic directors and the uniqueness of its concept within the French musical landscape.

Since 2026: The Festival Becomes Les Rêveries de Bel-Air

After fourteen editions, the association announced on its website that "the Bel-Air Claviers Festival is escaping into Rêveries." In 2026, the September week is giving way to a more regular and intimate format: four major weekends spread across the season, each given as a carte blanche to an artist—whether a rising young talent or an established performer—featuring concerts, workshops, masterclasses, meet-and-greets, and hybrid performances in unconventional settings.

The Rêveries aim to support artistic emergence and transmission while offering the public a variety of musical experiences. The first took place in January 2026; the autumn event, Rêverie#4, will be held from September 10th to 13th, 2026. "The spirit of Bel-Air remains, but it is changing its destiny to better reinvent itself," the association summarizes.