Festival de Saint-Céré

The Festival de Saint-Céré: opera at the heart of the Lot heritage

Since 1980, the Festival de Saint-Céré has established itself as one of the major opera events in France. Born in the wake of the international choral singing sessions orchestrated by Pierre Host and Pierre de Miramon from the 1960s onwards, the festival was founded and directed by Olivier Desbordes until 2019, in a spirit of cultural decentralization supported by the Ministry of Culture.

Guided by the desire to promote access to culture for all in rural areas, the festival has produced and broadcasted operas and operettas by the company Opéra Éclaté for decades. Today led by ScénOgraph, a National Interest Conventioned Stage, it is directed by Véronique Do, accompanied since 2021 by Jean-Baptiste Henriat as artistic advisor.

Exceptional venues as a setting

The unique feature of the Festival de Saint-Céré lies in its exceptional performance venues. The shows come to life in remarkable historical sites in the Dordogne Valley:

• Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, a 12th-13th century fortress, a National Monument, where operas are performed outdoors at sunset
• Château de Montal, a Renaissance jewel built in 1519 by Jeanne de Balsac
• Théâtre de l'Usine in Saint-Céré, the permanent venue of ScénOgraph
• Abbey Church of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, for chamber music concerts
• Numerous heritage sites: churches, courtyards and castle gardens dotted across the north of the Lot and the south of Corrèze

An ambitious and eclectic program

Every summer, for two weeks, the festival offers a rich program combining opera, chamber music, recitals, musical theatre and contemporary creations. The repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary creation, with a particular focus on young performers among the best of their generation.

The festival creates a dialogue between genres and eras, offering both grand classical operas and more intimate or experimental forms. The productions are designed specifically for the venues that host them, creating a unique symbiosis between architectural heritage and artistic creation.

A commitment to new creations

The Festival de Saint-Céré is distinguished by its active support for young artists and emerging artistic companies. It serves as a real springboard for singers, instrumentalists and directors at the beginning of their careers, while also inviting established artists from the international opera scene.

A festival rooted in its territory

Deeply rooted in the local fabric, the festival contributes to the cultural and tourist influence of the Dordogne Valley. It benefits from the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Occitanie Region, the Lot Department and the City of Saint-Céré. The Rendez-vous des Curieux (Meetings for the Curious), moments of exchange with the artists, public rehearsals and aperitif-meetings strengthen the link between the festival and its audiences.