Festival de Glanum

Music Among Roman Ruins

The Festival de Glanum was born in 2015 from the encounter between classical music and one of France's most beautiful archaeological sites. The ancient site of Glanum, a Gallo-Roman city founded in the 6th century BC at the foot of the Alpilles, offers a naturally theatrical setting: columns, arches, and millennia-old stone walls form an open-air stage where concerts take on a unique dimension. Every summer, in July, spectators gather facing the ruins for concerts at dusk, in the golden light of the Provençal evening.

Artistic Direction by Mathieu Herzog

Under the artistic direction of conductor and violinist Mathieu Herzog, founder of the Appassionato orchestra, the Festival de Glanum has established a demanding and eclectic musical identity. The programming mixes opera, symphonic music, lyrical recitals, ballet, and world music, with a preference for performances that combine music and staging. The Appassionato orchestra, the festival's resident ensemble, accompanies the greatest invited soloists and opera singers.

Internationally Renowned Artists

The Festival de Glanum has hosted top-tier artists on the Glanum stage: South African soprano Pretty Yende, the Sirba Octet with their Ashkenazi, Armenian, and Gypsy music, the Ballet Julien Lestel in an original Carmen, and mezzo-soprano Karine Deshayes and clarinettist Pierre Genisson. Each edition also features youth performances and free concerts in the Barnier arenas of Saint-Remy.

Light Scenography and Unique Atmosphere

One of the major assets of the Festival de Glanum is its light scenography, which highlights the ancient ruins throughout the evening. As night falls, the columns, walls, and arches are adorned with lights that reveal the mineral beauty of the site, creating a magical and immersive atmosphere. Concerts begin at 9:30 PM, at the time when dusk envelops the Alpilles, offering spectators an experience where music, light, and history blend into a timeless moment.