Festival Côté Cour

A Young Chamber Music Festival in Provence

The Festival Côté Cour is a chamber music festival created in 2021 in Aix-en-Provence. Every summer, for a week in July, it offers a series of concerts in the heritage venues of Aix-en-Provence and surrounding towns: the Amphithéâtre de La Manufacture, the Patio du Musée Granet, the Fondation Vasarely, as well as churches and castles in the region. This intimate and itinerant format allows for the (re)discovery of chamber music in exceptional architectural settings.

A Repertoire from Romanticism to Impressionism

The Festival Côté Cour's programming explores a repertoire ranging from Romanticism to Impressionism, with a preference for string quartets, quintets, sonatas, and trios. Works by Dvořák, Schubert, Ravel, Fauré, Bizet, Grieg, Strauss, Prokofiev, Piazzolla, and Poulenc have been featured in past editions. The festival showcases high-level chamber ensembles, bringing together musicians from the world's greatest stages for unique collaborations.

Commented Public Rehearsals: A Trademark

One of the unique features of the Festival Côté Cour is its commented public rehearsals, a format that has been at the heart of the project since its creation. These sessions, usually held at the Amphithéâtre de La Manufacture or the Auditorium du Musée Granet, allow the public to witness the musicians' work, understand interpretation choices, and discover the behind-the-scenes preparation of a concert. This educational and immersive approach brings the audience closer to the music and the artists.

An Itinerant Festival Rooted in the Territory

The Festival Côté Cour extends beyond Aix-en-Provence, with concerts in heritage sites in neighboring towns: Puyricard (Place de l'Église), Pertuis (Espace de Croze, Médiathèque Les Carmes), and Saint-Martin de Pallières (Cathédrale Souterraine du Château). This itinerant dimension helps bring chamber music to areas less served by cultural offerings, while also highlighting the architectural heritage of Provence. The growing festival celebrated its 5th edition in 2025, confirming its place in the Aixois musical landscape.