Baroque en Forez Festival

13th Edition: De(s)rives, a Festival Along the Water

For this 13th edition, artistic director Louis-Jean Perreau has chosen water as the guiding theme, inviting the public to explore the unexpected paths of baroque music and its contemporary inspirations. From September 21 to October 5, 2025, the festival will take over nine municipalities in Forez, from the water source of Montarcher to the Savigneux treatment plant, including exceptional heritage sites.

Highlights of the 2025 Edition

The edition opened on September 21 in Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert with a walk in the footsteps of boatmen and a musical adaptation of Molière's *The Imaginary Invalid* titled "Le Malade imaginaire en La majeur." The weekend of September 27 and 28 in Marcoux featured a concert by Trio L (French music), a pocket opera by L'Astrée, and an introduction to baroque dance, followed by a "Purcell à 4" concert and the spectacular *Magnificat* by Brass Band Loire Forez and Chœur Symphonia in Marols and Saint-Bonnet-le-Château.

The first week of October continued with discoveries: "Baroque Storms" in a concert-walk in Montarcher (October 1st), Bach's *Goldberg Variations* on accordion by Philippe Bourlois in Apinac (October 2nd), "Guerra Amorosa" by the ensemble Comet Musicke, blending baroque music and artistic fencing in Marols (October 3rd), "Music Across Continents" by Les Ministriles in Saint-Jean-Soleymieux (October 4th), and the closing concert Ravel-Handel in Verrières-en-Forez (October 5th), bringing together Ravel's *Le Tombeau de Couperin* (for the 150th anniversary of his birth) and Handel's three orchestral suites from *Water Music*, conducted by Louis-Jean Perreau.

Film screenings (*Barry Lyndon* by Kubrick, *Palombella Rossa* by Moretti, *The Pearl Button*), conferences on the revival of baroque music, heritage visits (Vignal Mill, Abiessence workshop), nature walks (Bois des Gaulois), and baroque yoga completed the program.

Program for the 2025 Edition

• Sunday, September 21: Walk in the footsteps of boatmen and "Le Malade imaginaire en La majeur" (Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert)
• Wednesday, September 24: Musical visit of the Sitepur plant (Savigneux) and screening of *Palombella Rossa* (Saint-Étienne)
• Thursday, September 25: Screening of *Barry Lyndon* (Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert) and quiz on baroque music at the cinema
• Friday, September 26: Screening of *The Pearl Button* (Saint-Bonnet-le-Château) and conference "The Revival of Baroque Music"
• Saturday, September 27: Trio L Concert "French Music" (Marcoux, 8:30 PM), pocket opera L'Astrée (Marcoux), introduction to baroque dance (Marcoux)
• Sunday, September 28: Walk in the Bois des Gaulois (Marols), "Purcell à 4" (Marols), "The Magnificat" by Brass Band Loire Forez and Chœur Symphonia (Saint-Bonnet-le-Château)
• Wednesday, October 1: Visit to the water source (Montarcher), "Baroque Storms" concert-walk (Montarcher)
• Thursday, October 2: Visit to the Vignal Mill (Apinac), Bach's *Goldberg Variations* on accordion by Philippe Bourlois (Apinac)
• Friday, October 3: Baroque yoga (Marols), "Guerra Amorosa" by the ensemble Comet Musicke - baroque music and artistic fencing (Marols)
• Saturday, October 4: "Music Across Continents" by Les Ministriles (Saint-Jean-Soleymieux)
• Sunday, October 5: Visit to the Abiessence workshop (Verrières-en-Forez, 2 PM), free public rehearsal (Verrières, 11 AM), closing concert Ravel-Handel conducted by Louis-Jean Perreau (Verrières-en-Forez Church, 5 PM)

• 13th edition themed "De(s)rives" around water
• Artistic direction: Louis-Jean Perreau
• Nine municipalities in Forez involved
• Closing concert Ravel-Handel for Ravel's 150th anniversary
• "Guerra Amorosa" by Comet Musicke: baroque music and artistic fencing
• Bach's Goldberg Variations on accordion
• Film screenings: Barry Lyndon, Palombella Rossa
• Heritage walks, baroque yoga, introduction to baroque dance