Festival Berlioz

The Festival Berlioz: a living tribute to romantic genius

Since 1994, the Festival Berlioz has celebrated the musical heritage of Hector Berlioz in his birthplace of La Côte-Saint-André, in the heart of Isère. Founded in 1979 in Lyon on the initiative of conductor Serge Baudo, then musical director of the Orchestre National de Lyon, the festival settled permanently in the Dauphiné town in 1994, under the presidency of senator Jean Boyer. It is now one of the essential events for classical and symphonic music in France, recognized for its national and international reach.

A history shaped by great artistic directors

Three artistic directors have shaped the festival's identity. Alain Picard (1994-1996) laid its foundations. Bernard Merlino (1997-2008) orchestrated the celebrations for the bicentenary of Berlioz's birth in 2003 and made the Château Louis XI the iconic venue for major symphonic concerts. Since 2009, Bruno Messina, a passionate musicologist, has brought an audacious vision to the festival by creating bridges between scholarly music and popular music from around the world, while making classical music accessible to the greatest number.

The Hector Berlioz European Youth Orchestra – Isère

Created in 2010 by Bruno Messina, the Hector Berlioz European Youth Orchestra – Isère is the festival's academy orchestra. Each year, it offers young professional musicians in the early stages of their careers a unique symphonic orchestra experience, contributing to the renewal of generations of performers and the dissemination of Berlioz's work.

Exceptional venues in the heart of Isère's heritage

The festival takes place in remarkable heritage sites in Isère. The courtyard of Château Louis XI, a medieval castle from the 13th century, is the main setting for major symphonic concerts with a capacity of 1,400 seats. The church of La Côte-Saint-André hosts recitals and chamber music, while the Halle médiévale is the venue for free concerts "Under Hector's Balcony". The festival also extends to abbeys, castles, and churches in the Isère region, notably the abbey of Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye.

A program balancing tradition and boldness

Each edition of the Festival Berlioz offers around forty events, a large portion of which are free. The program features major works from the romantic repertoire—Symphonie fantastique, Requiem, Roméo et Juliette, Les Troyens—alongside contemporary creations, encounters between scholarly and popular music, musicological conferences, exhibitions, and popular festive moments. The greatest international orchestras and soloists perform each year alongside young talents.

A committed and accessible festival

With nearly 28,000 spectators in 2025, more than half of whom attended free events, the Festival Berlioz affirms its commitment to cultural democratization. The free "Under Hector's Balcony" concerts, aperitif concerts, the "Taverne d'Hector" after the shows, and the grand popular festival are all convivial gatherings that make the festival a unifying event for the entire region.