Festival de Laon

A classical music festival in the heart of the medieval city of Laon

Since 1989, the Festival de Laon has been the major autumn event for classical music in the Aisne. Organized by the ADAMA (Association for the Development of Musical Activities in the Aisne) under the auspices of the Aisne Departmental Council, it offers about ten concerts each year in exceptional heritage locations, primarily the Notre-Dame de Laon Cathedral, a jewel of early Gothic art overlooking the city perched on its promontory.

An ambitious symphonic and chamber repertoire

The festival is mainly dedicated to the symphonic and chamber music repertoire, from the late 18th century to the present day. Each edition revolves around a unifying theme that guides the programming: "Millésimes" in 2023, "Horizons of Romanticism" in 2024, "Powers and Music" in 2025. The greatest composers are honored: Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Mahler, Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Shostakovich, Boulez, and Philip Glass.

The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, a faithful partner

One of the strengths of the Festival de Laon lies in its partnership of over twenty-five years with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, which traditionally opens the festival with an exceptional symphonic concert in the cathedral. Over the years, the festival has also hosted prestigious ensembles: Le Poème Harmonique, Le Concert de la Loge, the Orchestre de Picardie, the Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain, as well as internationally renowned soloists such as Renaud Capuçon, Leonidas Kavakos, and Vanessa Wagner.

Remarkable concert venues

The concerts take place in several heritage locations: the Notre-Dame de Laon Cathedral, whose acoustics and 17th-century organ enhance the sacred and symphonic repertoire; the Saint-Martin Church of Laon, an intimate setting for chamber music and recitals; the Conservatoire du Pays de Laon for more intimate conferences and concerts. Since 2015, the festival has expanded to the Cité de la Musique et de la Danse in Soissons, strengthening its reach at the departmental level.

Transmission and accessibility

True to ADAMA's mission, the Festival de Laon combines artistic ambition with the goals of musical transmission and education. Prices are deliberately accessible, with a special €1 youth rate for those under 18, reduced rates for students, seniors (over 65), and the unemployed, as well as free conferences. The festival thus asserts itself as a vector of cultural democratization in a rural area.