Festival de Laon
Classical and symphonic music in the medieval city of Laon
About Festival de Laon
The Festival de Laon is a must-see event for classical music in the Hauts-de-France region, created in 1989 under the auspices of the Aisne Departmental Council. Every autumn, about ten concerts take place in the majestic Notre-Dame de Laon Cathedral and other heritage sites in the medieval city. The repertoire covers symphonic and chamber music from the late 18th century to the present day. The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France has been its privileged partner for over twenty-five years.
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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.
Festival de Laon — edition 2025
The 37th edition of the Festival de Laon will take place from September 11 to October 5, 2025, around the theme "Powers and Music". The program offers an eclectic journey from Lully to Boulez, including Mozart, Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Philip Glass, exploring the links between music and power through the centuries.
37th Festival de Laon – "Powers and Music"
The 37th edition of the Festival de Laon will take place from September 11 to October 5, 2025. Under the theme "Powers and Music", the festival explores how music "gives wings to our thoughts" and sometimes constitutes "an issue or an instrument of power".
Programming
- Thursday, September 11 – Laon Cathedral, 7 PM: Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali. Soloists: Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Alma Bettencourt (organ). Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 "with organ", Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 2.
- Tuesday, September 16 – Saint-Martin Church, 8 PM: Vanessa Wagner (piano). Philip Glass Etudes, Bach Preludes.
- Friday, September 19 – Cité de la Musique de Soissons, 8 PM: Orchestre Consuelo, conducted by Victor Julien-Laferrière. Théo Fouchenneret (piano). Beethoven Symphony No. 3 "Eroica", Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor".
- Tuesday, September 23 – Conservatoire du Pays de Laon, 6:30 PM: Lecture by Laurent Bayle: "Pierre Boulez, between vision and pragmatism".
- Thursday, September 25 – Cité de la Musique de Soissons, 8 PM: Musical show "Come Bach". Anne Baquet (vocals), Anne Regnier (oboe), Claude Collet (piano).
- Friday, September 26 – Saint-Martin Church, 8 PM: Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain, conducted by Bruno Mantovani. Salomé Haller (mezzo-soprano). Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht, Boulez Le Marteau sans maître.
- Sunday, September 28 – Laon Cathedral, 4 PM: Le Concert de la Loge, conducted by Julien Chauvin. Mélissa Petit, Eva Zaïcik, Antonin Rondepierre, Nahuel di Pierro. Mozart Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter", Great Mass.
- Saturday, October 4 – Conservatoire du Pays de Laon, 8 PM: Orchestre de Picardie, conducted by David Reiland. Adèle Charvet (mezzo-soprano). Caroline Marçot Chalk Line (world premiere), Milhaud The Bust on the Roof.
- Sunday, October 5 – Laon Cathedral, 4 PM: Le Poème Harmonique, conducted by Vincent Dumestre. Lully, Cavalli, Dumont – "The Royal Weddings of Louis XIV".
Programme Festival de Laon 2025
Program of the 37th Festival de Laon – 2025
Thursday, September 11 – Laon Cathedral, 7 PM
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, cond. Santtu-Matias Rouvali. Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Alma Bettencourt (organ). Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 "with organ". Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 2.
Tuesday, September 16 – Saint-Martin Church, 8 PM
Vanessa Wagner (piano). Philip Glass: Etudes. Bach: Preludes.
Friday, September 19 – Cité de la Musique de Soissons, 8 PM
Orchestre Consuelo, cond. Victor Julien-Laferrière. Théo Fouchenneret (piano). Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica". Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor".
Tuesday, September 23 – Conservatoire du Pays de Laon, 6:30 PM
Lecture by Laurent Bayle: "Pierre Boulez, between vision and pragmatism".
Thursday, September 25 – Cité de la Musique de Soissons, 8 PM
Musical show "Come Bach". Anne Baquet, Anne Regnier, Claude Collet.
Friday, September 26 – Saint-Martin Church, 8 PM
Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain, cond. Bruno Mantovani. Salomé Haller (mezzo-soprano). Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht. Boulez: Le Marteau sans maître.
Sunday, September 28 – Laon Cathedral, 4 PM
Le Concert de la Loge, cond. Julien Chauvin. Mozart: Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter", Great Mass in C.
Saturday, October 4 – Conservatoire du Pays de Laon, 8 PM
Orchestre de Picardie, cond. David Reiland. Adèle Charvet (mezzo-soprano). Caroline Marçot: Chalk Line (world premiere). Milhaud: The Bust on the Roof.
Sunday, October 5 – Laon Cathedral, 4 PM
Le Poème Harmonique, cond. Vincent Dumestre. Lully, Cavalli, Dumont: "The Royal Weddings of Louis XIV".
Highlights Festival de Laon 2025
- Theme "Powers and Music": exploring the links between music and power
- Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France with Leonidas Kavakos and Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3 "with organ"
- Le Concert de la Loge in Mozart: Symphony "Jupiter" and Great Mass in C
- Le Poème Harmonique and Vincent Dumestre: "The Royal Weddings of Louis XIV"
- Centenary of Pierre Boulez: Le Marteau sans maître by the Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain
- World premiere: Chalk Line by Caroline Marçot with the Orchestre de Picardie
- Vanessa Wagner: Philip Glass and Bach recital
Prices Festival de Laon 2025
Practical information — Festival de Laon
Access
The Festival de Laon primarily takes place in the upper town of Laon (02000), perched on a promontory overlooking the Picardy plain. Several venues host the concerts.
- Notre-Dame de Laon Cathedral: Rue du Cloître, 02000 Laon
- Saint-Martin Church of Laon: Place Sœur Marie Catherine, 02000 Laon
- Conservatoire du Pays de Laon: 5 rue William Henry Waddington, 02000 Laon
- Cité de la Musique et de la Danse de Soissons: 9 allée Claude Debussy, 02200 Soissons
Transport
- By train: Laon SNCF station (TER from Paris-Nord via Crépy-en-Valois, approx. 1h40). Poma (automatic funicular) connecting the station to the upper town.
- By car: From Paris (140 km), A26 exit Laon. From Reims (50 km), RN2/A26.
Prices
- Full price: €20 to €30 depending on the concert
- Reduced price: €15 to €20 (students 18-26, seniors over 65, unemployed)
- Youth price: €1 for under 18s (exceptions apply)
- All concerts package: €185 (full price) / €135 (reduced price)
Ticketing
- Online: festival-laon.org
- Laon Tourist Office: Place du Parvis, 02000 Laon – Open daily from 10 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 6 PM (Mondays from 10:30 AM). Credit card payment only.
- On-site: At the entrance of the concerts, subject to availability.
Contact
- Phone: 03 23 24 60 09
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: festival-laon.org
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — Festival de Laon
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon
Rue du Cloître, 02000 Laon