Festival de la Ria
Chamber music festival around the Ria d'Étel in Morbihan
About Festival de la Ria
Chamber Music Along the Ria d'Étel
The Festival de la Ria is a summer musical event that takes place in the churches, chapels, and heritage sites of the towns bordering the Ria d'Étel, a wild and preserved sea inlet in Morbihan. Organized by the AMICORDE association, the festival annually presents a series of high-quality chamber music concerts, performed by professional musicians in exceptional acoustic settings.
Traveling Concerts in a Heritage Setting
The unique feature of the Festival de la Ria is its traveling nature. Concerts are held in various towns along the ria: Nostang, Belz, Étel, Plouhinec, Sainte-Hélène, and Locoal-Mendon. The Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul church in Nostang serves as the central venue for the festival. This itinerant format allows spectators to discover the architectural and natural heritage of the ria while enjoying intimate concerts.
An Excellent Chamber Repertoire
The festival's program is dedicated to chamber music in all its forms: duets, trios, quartets, quintets. The repertoire covers a wide spectrum of classical music, from Baroque to contemporary, including Romantic and Impressionist periods. The invited musicians, professional artists of national and international renown, offer high-quality performances in often remarkable acoustics.
Masterclasses for Musicians
In addition to the concerts, the festival organizes masterclasses for musicians of all levels. These intensive workshops, led by the festival's guest artists, allow participants to refine their technique and musicality in an inspiring environment. Masterclasses are an integral part of the Festival de la Ria's identity, which also aims to be a place for transmission and training.
The Ria d'Étel, a Natural Gem
The Ria d'Étel is one of the most remarkable natural sites in Morbihan. This 15-kilometer sea inlet, bordered by marshes, islets, and picturesque villages, forms a rich and preserved ecosystem. Attending a festival concert also means immersing oneself in this unique landscape, between land and sea, where the beauty of the built heritage meets the serenity of the maritime scenery.
Festival de la Ria — edition 2026
The 5th edition of the Festival de la Ria takes place from August 8 to 14, 2026, in the communes bordering the Étel ria (Morbihan). Under the sign of the number 5, this anniversary edition offers a week of chamber music concerts in the churches, chapels, and halls of Belz, Étel, Plouhinec, Sainte-Hélène, Nostang, and Locoal-Mendon, accompanied by the orchestra and chamber music academy, a new baroque workshop, masterclasses, and conferences.
Festival de la Ria 2026: "The Quintessence"
From August 8 to 14, 2026, the Festival de la Ria celebrates its 5th edition. Since its creation by Denis Mocquot in 2022, the festival has championed a vibrant vision of chamber music, a place for dialogue between amateurs and professionals, between heritage and discovery. This year, the number 5 becomes the guiding thread: five "B"s (Bach, Berg, Bridge, Britten, and Brahms) for the opening, cycles of five pieces, opus 5, fifth concertos, quintets, and an entire evening dedicated to five female composers.
A novelty: the baroque workshop
True to its founding spirit, the festival once again welcomes the orchestra and chamber music academy as well as the vocal workshop, and this year sees the creation of a baroque workshop within the academy. A baroque evening and the discovery of the violoncello da spalla (a five-string instrument), with the first participation of Vincent Roth, enrich the musical adventure.
Highlights
Among the significant moments of this 5th edition: Pergolese's Stabat Mater performed by Clara Bellon and Brenda Poupard, Bach's 5th Suite with Raphaël Perraud, Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 "The Turkish" with Hugues Borsarello, and Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto performed by Mara Dobresco, under the direction of Nicolas Kruger.
Programme Festival de la Ria 2026
Saturday, August 8, 2026 — 8:30 PM · Belz, Saint-Cado Chapel
Opening "5 B." — Concert presented by Nicolas Kruger
- J.-S. Bach: 5th Suite for solo cello in C minor, BWV 1011
- Johannes Brahms: Zwei Gesänge, op. 91
- Frank Bridge: Lament for two violas, H. 117
- Alban Berg: Four Pieces for clarinet and piano, op. 5
- Benjamin Britten: Lachrymae, op. 48
With Brenda Poupard (mezzo-soprano), Emmanuelle Brunat (clarinet), Mara Dobresco and Nicolas Kruger (piano), Raphaël Perraud (cello), Agnès Maison, Sabine Toutain and Vincent Roth (violas).
Sunday, August 9, 2026 — 8:30 PM · Étel, Notre-Dame des Flots Church
A Journey Back in Time Concert — Concert presented by Nicolas Kruger
- Thierry Huillet: 5 haikus for viola and piano
- Witold Lutosławski: Dance Preludes for clarinet and piano
- Sergei Prokofiev: Melodies for violin and piano, op. 35 bis
- Maurice Ravel: Five Greek Folk Songs for soprano and piano
- Robert Schumann: Pieces in Folk Style
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio "Ghost"
With Clara Bellon (soprano), Emmanuelle Brunat (clarinet), Brigitte Clair, Mara Dobresco and Nicolas Kruger (pianos), Hugues Borsarello (violin), Sabine Toutain (viola), Raphaël Perraud (cello).
Monday, August 10, 2026 — 8:30 PM · Plouhinec, Notre-Dame de Grâce Church
Baroque Concert — Concert presented by Nicolas Kruger
- J.-S. Bach: Suite for solo cello in D major, BWV 1012 (on violoncello da spalla)
- Antonio Vivaldi: Sonata in E minor for cello and harpsichord, RV 40
- J.-S. Bach: Trio Sonata, BWV 529
- J.-S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, BWV 1050
With Vincent Roth (violoncello da spalla) and the Ensemble Baumhaus.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 — 8:30 PM · Sainte-Hélène, Salle Beg er Lann
Quintet Evening — Concert presented by Nicolas Kruger
- W. A. Mozart: String Quintet in G minor, K. 516
- Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Quintet
With Emmanuel Brunat (clarinet), Hugues Borsarello and Fabien Boudot (violins), Agnès Maison and Sabine Toutain (violas), Raphaël Perraud (cello).
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 — 8:30 PM · Nostang, Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul Church
Female Composers — Concert presented by Nicolas Kruger
- Charlotte Sohy: Piano Trio in D minor, op. 24
- Rebecca Clarke: Prelude, Allegro and Pastorale for viola and clarinet
- Jeanne Bernard: Mélancolie en barque for cello and piano
- Dorothy Howell: The Moorings for violin and piano
- Rita Strohl: Piano Trio No. 1 in G minor
With Emmanuelle Brunat (clarinet), Brigitte Clair and Mara Dobresco (piano), Hugues Borsarello (violin), Agnès Maison (viola), Raphaël Perraud (cello).
Thursday, August 13, 2026 — 6:00 PM · Locoal-Mendon, Salle Émeraude — Free admission
Chamber Music Audition — Academy interns and professors: Fauré (Piano Quintet), Mahler (Piano Quartet), Debussy (Sonata for flute, viola and harp).
Friday, August 14, 2026 — 5:00 PM · Locoal-Mendon, Saint-Pierre Church — Free admission
Baroque Music Audition — Works by Vivaldi, Rameau, Lully, followed by Pergolese's Stabat Mater, with Clara Bellon (soprano), Brenda Poupard (mezzo-soprano), directed by Vincent Roth and the baroque workshop interns.
Friday, August 14, 2026 — 8:30 PM · Locoal-Mendon, Salle Émeraude
Closing Concert — Symphony Orchestra — Concert presented by Nicolas Kruger
- W. A. Mozart: Overture to Don Giovanni, K. 527; Violin Concerto No. 5 "The Turkish"
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor"
With Mara Dobresco (piano), Hugues Borsarello (violin), directed by Nicolas Kruger and the musicians of the academy orchestra.
Conferences & Masterclasses (August 8-14)
- Sat, August 8, 4:30 PM: vocal masterclass with Brigitte Clair
- Sun, August 9, 4:30 PM: conference "The Musician's Ear" by Dr. Emmanuel Bartaire
- Mon, August 10, 1:30 PM: piano masterclass with Mara Dobresco
- Tue, August 11, 1:30 PM: viola masterclass with Sabine Toutain
- Wed, August 12, 2:00 PM: conference on French female composers by Nadège Gulyas
- Thu, August 13, 1:30 PM: vocal masterclass with Clara Bellon
- Fri, August 14, 2:00 PM: violin masterclass with Hugues Borsarello
(The horn masterclass with J.-M. Péresse is cancelled.)
Highlights Festival de la Ria 2026
- Opening Concert "5 B." at Saint-Cado Chapel (Belz), August 8
- Baroque concert on violoncello da spalla with Vincent Roth, August 10 in Plouhinec
- "Female Composers" Evening (Sohy, Clarke, Bernard, Howell, Strohl), August 12 in Nostang
- Pergolese's Stabat Mater, August 14 in Locoal-Mendon
- Symphonic closing concert: Mozart "The Turkish" and Beethoven "Emperor", August 14
- Orchestra and chamber music academy and new baroque workshop
Prices Festival de la Ria 2026
Practical information — Festival de la Ria
Access to Concerts
By Car
The towns of the Ria d'Étel are accessible from the N165 (Lorient-Vannes axis). Nostang is about 15 minutes from Lorient and 40 minutes from Vannes. The churches and chapels hosting the concerts generally have free parking nearby.
By Public Transport
The towns are served by the public transport network of Lorient Agglomération. The nearest train stations are Lorient or Auray.
Concert Venues
- Église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul, Nostang
- Churches and chapels in Belz, Étel, Plouhinec, Sainte-Hélène, Locoal-Mendon
Ticketing and Prices
Tickets are available online on the AMICORDE association's website and at the venue before each concert. Prices range from 10 to 27 euros depending on the concert. Reduced rates for students and children.
Masterclasses
Masterclasses are open to musicians of all levels upon prior registration. As places are limited, it is recommended to register in advance on the association's website.
Accommodation
The Ria d'Étel and its surroundings offer numerous accommodation options: hotels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, and gîtes. It is advisable to book in advance during the summer season.
Contact
- Association: AMICORDE
- Website: www.amicorde.org
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Where does it take place — Festival de la Ria
Église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul de Nostang
Église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul, 56690 Nostang