Festival CLASSICoFRENZY

CLASSICoFRENZY: The Festival That Reinvents Classical Music

Born in Millau in 2015 under the impetus of concert pianist Marina Di Giorno, the CLASSICoFRENZY festival (formerly CLASSICoFOLIES) is a unique musical event in Occitanie. Driven by the association Music'Arte, chaired by Caterina Marcel, this itinerant and innovative festival has set itself the mission of making classical music accessible to all, by making it resonate under all roofs and in all territories.

A Cross-Pollination of Arts at the Heart of the Project

The distinctive feature of CLASSICoFRENZY lies in its desire to cross artistic disciplines. Each edition blends classical and contemporary music, dance, and visual arts (painting and cinema), creating multidisciplinary performances of great richness. The concerts are conceived as true sensory experiences where music dialogues with choreography, visual projections, and stage performances.

An Intergenerational and Educational Festival

CLASSICoFRENZY stands out for its strong educational commitment. During the day, educational concerts are organized for schools in the region, accompanied by free workshops and master classes led by professional musicians. Students from schools in Cahors, Pradines, Catus, Laroque-des-Arcs, and other towns in the Lot actively participate in these musical discovery sessions, guided by passionate instructors like music professor Régis Daniel.

In the evening, the festival opens its doors to the general public with international-scale concerts. The Espace Valentré in Cahors hosts prestigious orchestral ensembles and renowned soloists, in a friendly and warm atmosphere that appeals to both discerning music lovers and neophytes.

An Ambitious and Eclectic Program

Over the years, CLASSICoFRENZY has hosted remarkable artists and ensembles, including the Briansk National Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by pianist Marina Di Giorno, in works ranging from Cuban and Azerbaijani traditions to Hungarian music by Liszt. The festival has also presented world premieres, such as a choreographed version of Liszt's Second Hungarian Rhapsody, performed by oriental dancer Shérazade Bouteilja.

The festival has also been distinguished by the choice of prestigious patrons, such as Michael Jones, patron of the 6th edition in 2020, demonstrating the recognition this event enjoys in the French music scene.

A Reach Across Occitanie

An itinerant festival by nature, CLASSICoFRENZY has woven a distribution network across seven cities in Occitanie, from Aveyron to Lot and Tarn. Cahors, with its Espace Valentré, is one of the festival's flagship venues, alongside Figeac, Rodez, Millau, Séverac, and other towns in the region. This itinerant dimension allows classical music to be brought closer to rural areas and to reach audiences far from major concert halls.