Colmar Easter Festival — Les Musicales

Over seventy years of musical tradition

The Colmar Easter Festival draws its roots from a musical tradition over seventy years old. Born under the name Les Musicales de Colmar, this event has always carried in its DNA a passion for chamber music and a desire to make great music accessible to the widest possible audience. In 2006, internationally renowned cellist Marc Coppey took over as artistic director, giving the festival a new impetus that propelled it among the most prestigious classical events in Europe.

Marc Coppey, an exceptional artistic director

A former member of the Ysaÿe Quartet (1995-2000), a professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, and artist in residence with the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Marc Coppey is recognized as one of the world's leading cellists. Under his inspired direction, the festival has transformed to embrace a more ambitious program, now including major symphony orchestras, choirs, and concert versions of operas, while remaining true to its original mission: closeness to the audience and absolute artistic excellence.

Four heritage venues for music

The richness of the Easter Festival also lies in the diversity of its concert venues, each offering unique acoustics and atmosphere. The Saint-Matthieu Church, a jewel of Colmar's Gothic architecture, hosts major symphonic and choral evenings. The Municipal Theatre, with its Italian-style elegance, is the ideal setting for chamber music and recitals. The Unterlinden Museum, home to the famous Isenheim Altarpiece by Grünewald, offers intimate concerts in an exceptional museum setting. Finally, the Salle Europe provides a modern space for larger orchestral ensembles.

A festival looking towards the future

Each edition of the Easter Festival is organized around an artistic theme that permeates the entire program. The festival distinguishes itself by its ambition to blend genres and eras, from the Baroque repertoire to contemporary creations, including the great classics of Romanticism. Affordable prices (starting from €12), concerts for young audiences, and meetings with artists demonstrate the festival's commitment to reaching everyone, far beyond the circle of seasoned music lovers. Colmar thus becomes, during Easter, a place where classical music rediscovers its full power of bringing people together.