Claude Terrasse Operetta Festival
French operetta in the spotlight at Le Grand-Lemps
About Claude Terrasse
Created in 2015 by the association Dans les pas de Terrasse, the Claude Terrasse Operetta Festival pays homage to the composer Claude Terrasse (1867-1923), nicknamed the "prince of French operetta" and successor to Offenbach. Every year in Le Grand-Lemps, the town where the composer lived with the Bonnard family, the festival features performances of comic operas, operettas, and musical shows by the Ensemble Kaïnos, in the La Grange multipurpose hall.
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The Claude Terrasse Operetta Festival: a tribute to the prince of French operetta
Since 2015, the Claude Terrasse Operetta Festival has been reviving the work of one of the most brilliant French operetta composers in the heart of Le Grand-Lemps, in Isère. Created by the association Dans les pas de Terrasse in partnership with the municipality, this unique festival is dedicated to rediscovering and promoting the repertoire of Claude Terrasse (1867-1923), an unjustly overlooked composer whom his contemporaries considered the true successor to Jacques Offenbach.
Claude Terrasse and Le Grand-Lemps: a story of family and art
Born on January 27, 1867, in L'Arbresle in the Rhône region, Claude Terrasse married Andrée Bonnard, sister of the famous painter Pierre Bonnard, in 1890. It was at the Clos Bonnard, a family property in Le Grand-Lemps, that the composer regularly stayed and drew part of his inspiration. The residence became a hub for artistic encounters, bringing together painters, writers, and musicians from the Parisian avant-garde, including Alfred Jarry, for whom Terrasse composed the music for Ubu Roi in 1896, while Pierre Bonnard created the sets.
A prolific body of work between comic opera and musical fantasy
From 1900 to 1914, Claude Terrasse dominated the French lyrical scene with works sparkling with wit and melodic invention. His first major success, La Petite Femme de Loth (1900), written with Tristan Bernard, inaugurated a series of masterpieces in the genre: Les Travaux d'Hercule (1901), Le Sire de Vergy (1903), Monsieur de la Palisse (1904), and Le Mariage de Télémaque (1910). An organist at the church of Sainte-Trinité in Paris, he blended the rigor of his classical training with an irresistible comedic flair in his compositions.
A festival led by Ensemble Kaïnos
The artistic direction of the festival is managed by the Ensemble Kaïnos, a musical ensemble based in La Côte-Saint-André, specializing in musical theater and chamber music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Under the musical direction of Julien Weber and with inventive staging by artists such as Réda Chéraitia and Alberto Nason, the ensemble brings Terrasse's operettas back to life with casts of talented opera singers and instrumentalists.
Lively and accessible performances
Each edition of the festival offers one or more performances in the La Grange multipurpose hall in Le Grand-Lemps, providing the audience with an intimate and friendly experience. The shows are accompanied by exhibitions on the life and work of Claude Terrasse, lectures, and activities designed to introduce this musical heritage to a wider audience, from operetta enthusiasts to curious newcomers.
A festival rooted in the heritage of Isère
The Claude Terrasse Operetta Festival is part of an initiative to promote the cultural and artistic heritage of Isère. By honoring the memory of a composer who lived and created in this region, the festival contributes to the cultural influence of Le Grand-Lemps and the Bièvre valley, while also forging links with other cultural events in Isère, such as the Berlioz Festival in La Côte-Saint-André, a neighboring town where Ensemble Kaïnos is based.
Claude Terrasse — edition 2026
The 10th edition of the Claude Terrasse Operetta Festival will be held in Le Grand-Lemps in October 2026. For this anniversary edition marking ten years of the festival, Ensemble Kaïnos will present a new production from Claude Terrasse's repertoire at the La Grange multipurpose hall.
10th edition — Claude Terrasse Operetta Festival 2026
In 2026, the Claude Terrasse Operetta Festival celebrates its 10th edition, an anniversary marking a decade of rediscovering and promoting the work of the "prince of French operetta" in Le Grand-Lemps. Since the first edition in 2015, the festival has brought back to light the operettas, comic operas, and theatrical compositions of Claude Terrasse, brilliantly performed by Ensemble Kaïnos.
An Anniversary Edition
For this special edition, the association Dans les pas de Terrasse and Ensemble Kaïnos are preparing a festive program worthy of the event. The La Grange multipurpose hall will host the performances in the warm and intimate atmosphere that makes this festival unique. Details of the program and the selected works will be announced during 2026.
Ticketing will open on the association's website and usual online sales platforms. Prices will remain affordable, in line with the festival's philosophy of introducing French operetta to the widest possible audience.
Prices Claude Terrasse 2026
Practical information — Claude Terrasse
Practical Information
Festival Venue
The performances of the Claude Terrasse Operetta Festival take place at the La Grange multipurpose hall, located in Le Grand-Lemps, Isère. This 300-seat hall offers an ideal intimate setting to appreciate Claude Terrasse's operettas and comic operas.
- Address: Salle polyvalente La Grange, rue de la Plaine, 38690 Le Grand-Lemps
- Capacity: approximately 300 seats
- Parking: free parking near the hall (200 spaces, including 4 for people with reduced mobility)
Access by Car
Le Grand-Lemps is easily accessible from the region's main roads:
- From Grenoble: A48 towards Lyon, exit 9 "Rives / Le Grand-Lemps", then follow D1085 (approx. 45 minutes)
- From Lyon: A43 then A48 towards Grenoble, exit 9 "Rives / Le Grand-Lemps" (approx. 1h10)
- From Chambéry: A43 then A48, exit 9 (approx. 1h)
- From Valence: A7 then A49 towards Grenoble, exit Voiron, then D1085 (approx. 1h15)
Access by Public Transport
The nearest SNCF train station is Gare du Grand-Lemps, served by TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on the Grenoble - Lyon line. From the station, the La Grange hall is a few minutes' walk away.
- From Grenoble: Direct TER, approx. 35 minutes
- From Lyon Part-Dieu: TER, approx. 1 hour
The Cars Région Isère bus network also serves Le Grand-Lemps. Information available at itinisere.fr.
Prices and Ticketing
The festival offers affordable prices to allow as many people as possible to discover the work of Claude Terrasse:
- Full adult price: 15 euros
- Youth price (under 18): 5 euros
Tickets are available online at HelloAsso and Billetweb, as well as at the Le Grand-Lemps town hall and on-site on the day of the performances (subject to availability).
Contact
For any further information, please contact the organizing association:
- Association: Dans les pas de Terrasse
- Postal address: Mairie de Le Grand-Lemps, 6 rue Lamartine, 38690 Le Grand-Lemps
- Phone: 07 83 17 31 68
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.dans-les-pas-de-terrasse.fr
Accessibility
The La Grange multipurpose hall is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Disabled parking spaces are available immediately near the entrance.
Accommodation and Dining
Le Grand-Lemps and its surroundings offer various accommodation options: hotels, gîtes, bed and breakfasts. The Bièvre Isère Tourist Office provides information on available accommodation. Several restaurants and food shops are located in the town center of Le Grand-Lemps.
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Claude Terrasse at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Claude Terrasse
Salle polyvalente La Grange
Salle polyvalente La Grange, rue de la Plaine, 38690 Le Grand-Lemps