Festival des Nuits Romantiques du Lac du Bourget
The essential meeting place for romantic music by the Lac du Bourget
About Nuits Romantiques
The Nuits Romantiques du Lac du Bourget: thirty years of musical excellence
Since 1995, the Festival des Nuits Romantiques du Lac du Bourget has established itself as one of the major classical music events in France. Born from the desire to make the masterpieces of the romantic repertoire resonate in the exceptional venues of Aix-les-Bains and its surroundings, this festival has won over a loyal and discerning audience, attracted by the quality of its programming and the magic of its concert settings.
Exceptional venues for music
The Festival des Nuits Romantiques is distinguished by its remarkable choice of concert venues. The Théâtre du Casino Grand Cercle, an architectural gem of the Belle Époque and a listed Historic Monument, offers sumptuous acoustics and decor for recitals and chamber music concerts. The Abbaye royale d'Hautecombe, nestled on the shores of Lac du Bourget, offers a unique spiritual and contemplative atmosphere for sunset concerts. The Centre des Congrès of Aix-les-Bains hosts larger orchestral ensembles.
This diversity of venues allows the festival to offer a complete musical experience, where each concert is enhanced by its architectural and natural setting. Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake in France, provides a magnificent backdrop that adds a contemplative dimension to each evening.
A prestigious program
Under the artistic direction of violinist Philippe Bernhard, a former member of the Quatuor Modigliani, the festival brings together internationally renowned artists each year. Over the years, the Nuits Romantiques have hosted exceptional performers such as Renaud Capuçon, Gautier Capuçon, Abdel Rahman El Bacha, Nemanja Radulovic, the Quatuor Alban Berg, the Quatuor Ysaÿe, and Marek Janowski with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.
The repertoire, centered on the romantic period, explores the works of the great composers of the 19th century: Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, but also includes excursions into the baroque and contemporary repertoire. Each edition is structured around a theme or a key composer, offering a coherent and illuminating thread.
Strong territorial roots
The festival contributes to the cultural influence of Aix-les-Bains and the Riviera des Alpes, fitting into the city's spa and tourist tradition. The concerts are also an opportunity to discover the architectural and natural heritage of the region, creating an intimate link between music, landscape, and history. School concerts are also offered, reaching over 200 students each year and ensuring the transmission of musical passion to younger generations.
Nuits Romantiques — edition 2026
The 31st edition of the Festival des Nuits Romantiques du Lac du Bourget takes place from September 26 to October 4, 2026, in Aix-les-Bains Riviera des Alpes and around Lac du Bourget. This edition is dedicated to Franz Schubert (1797-1828), a major figure of Viennese Romanticism. The program includes: symphonic concerts, chamber music, recitals, young audience shows, round tables, and cine-concerts in exceptional venues, under the artistic direction of violinist Philippe Bernhard.
31st Edition – Schubert in the Spotlight (Autumn 2026)
For its 31st edition, from September 26 to October 4, 2026, the Festival des Nuits Romantiques du Lac du Bourget places Franz Schubert at the heart of its program. Thirteen events (concerts, recitals, shows, round tables, and cine-concerts) explore the world of the Viennese composer and his contemporaries.
The opening night, on September 26 at the Centre Culturel et des Congrès d'Aix-les-Bains, brings together Renaud Capuçon and the Consuelo Orchestra conducted by Victor Julien-Laferrière around the famous Quintet 'The Trout', Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante, and Schubert's 'Unfinished' Symphony. Among other highlights: a staged Schubertiade with pianist Alexandre Kantorow and actress Rebecca Marder (October 2, Théâtre du Casino Grand Cercle), the concert 'Schubert and the Embrace of Destiny' with Edgar Moreau and the Orchestre national d'Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (October 3, Malraux scène nationale in Chambéry), and a recital by pianist Eric Lu, winner of the 2025 Chopin Competition, at the Grange batelière de l'Abbaye d'Hautecombe (October 4).
As every year, the concerts take over the heritage sites of the Riviera des Alpes: the Centre Culturel et des Congrès and the Théâtre du Casino Grand Cercle in Aix-les-Bains, the Abbaye d'Hautecombe on the shores of Lac du Bourget, as well as the Malraux scène nationale in Chambéry.
Programme Nuits Romantiques 2026
Saturday, September 26, 2026
- 4 PM — Workshop 'Discovering the Piano' with Paul Macari (piano restorer and tuner) · Centre Culturel et des Congrès, Aix-les-Bains
- 6 PM — Round table 'Schubert and Vienna' with Philippe Bernhard, Geneviève Frieh Giraud, Marie-Hortense Lacroix, moderated by Philippe Black · Centre Culturel et des Congrès, Aix-les-Bains
- 8 PM — Symphonic Concert 'Schubert and Mozart': Schubert's Quintet 'The Trout', Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante, Schubert's 'Unfinished' Symphony · Renaud Capuçon (violin), Paul Zientara (viola), Julia Hagen (cello), Lorraine Campet (double bass), Guillaume Bellom (piano), Consuelo Orchestra, Victor Julien-Laferrière (conductor) · Centre Culturel et des Congrès, Aix-les-Bains
Sunday, September 27, 2026
- 3 PM — Workshop 'Discovering the Piano' with Paul Macari · Centre Culturel et des Congrès, Aix-les-Bains
- 4 PM — 'What Schubert Taught Me', young audience show · Alexandre Blanc (piano), Faustine Egiziano (soprano), Christophe Egiziano (piano) · Centre Culturel et des Congrès, Aix-les-Bains
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
- 4 PM — Cine-concert: 'Piano Forest' (Masayuki Kojima, 2009) · Cinéma Victoria, Aix-les-Bains
- 8 PM — Screening: 'Barry Lyndon' (Stanley Kubrick, 1975) · Cinéma Victoria, Aix-les-Bains
Friday, October 2, 2026
- 8 PM — 'Schubertiade', staged show · Alexandre Kantorow (piano), Rebecca Marder (actress), Ilanah Lobel Torres (soprano), Nathan Mierdl (violin), Grégoire Vecchioni (viola), Stéphanie Huang (cello) · directed by Victoria Sitjà, lighting by Louis Sady · Théâtre du Casino Grand Cercle, Aix-les-Bains
Saturday, October 3, 2026
- 10 AM — Workshop 'Colors and Melody', musical awakening #1, with Solesne Loy (violinist, teacher) · Centre Culturel et des Congrès, Aix-les-Bains
- 11 AM — Round table 'Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume and the Hekking Cello' with Stéphanie Huang, Philippe Bernhard, Jonathan Marolle (luthier) · Centre Culturel et des Congrès, Aix-les-Bains
- 11 AM — Workshop 'Colors and Melody', musical awakening #2, with Solesne Loy · Centre Culturel et des Congrès, Aix-les-Bains
- 8 PM — 'Schubert and the Embrace of Destiny' (without conductor, in a spirit of dialogue) · Edgar Moreau (cello), Stéphanie Huang (cello), Guillaume Chilemme (violin), Nathan Mierdl (violin), Grégoire Vecchioni (viola), Orchestre national d'Auvergne Rhône-Alpes · Malraux scène nationale, Chambéry
Sunday, October 4, 2026
- 11 AM — 'The Great Trios': great trios by Schubert · Trio Moreau · Grange batelière de l'Abbaye d'Hautecombe, Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille
- 3 PM — Piano Recital (Schubert and Chopin) · Eric Lu (piano), winner of the 2025 Chopin Competition · Grange batelière de l'Abbaye d'Hautecombe, Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille
Highlights Nuits Romantiques 2026
- 31st edition entirely dedicated to Franz Schubert
- Opening night with Renaud Capuçon and the Consuelo Orchestra ('The Trout' Quintet)
- Staged Schubertiade with Alexandre Kantorow and Rebecca Marder
- Edgar Moreau and the Orchestre national d'Auvergne Rhône-Alpes in Chambéry
- Recital by Eric Lu, winner of the 2025 Chopin Competition, at Abbaye d'Hautecombe
- Concerts in exceptional heritage sites on the shores of Lac du Bourget
Prices Nuits Romantiques 2026
Practical information — Nuits Romantiques
Practical Information
Access and transport
By car: Aix-les-Bains is accessible via the A41 motorway from Chambéry (15 min) and Annecy (45 min), or via the A43 from Lyon (1h30). Free and paid parking is available in the city center.
By train: Aix-les-Bains-Le Revard station is served by TGV trains from Paris (3h15), Lyon (1h15), and Geneva. The station is a 10-minute walk from the Casino Grand Cercle.
Concert venues
Théâtre du Casino Grand Cercle: 200 rue du Casino, 73100 Aix-les-Bains. Hall with 900 seats and a remarkable Belle Époque decor.
Abbaye d'Hautecombe: accessible by road (30 min from Aix-les-Bains) or by boat from the Grand Port of Aix-les-Bains.
Centre des Congrès: Avenue Charles de Gaulle, 73100 Aix-les-Bains.
Ticketing
Tickets are on sale on the official festival website and through the partner ticketing service Digitick. It is recommended to book in advance, as some concerts sell out quickly. Prices vary depending on the concert, from €15 to €45 for full price. Reduced rates for under 26s and job seekers.
Accommodation
Aix-les-Bains offers a wide choice of accommodation: charming hotels, tourist residences, B&Bs. "Festival + accommodation" packages are offered by the Aix-les-Bains Riviera des Alpes Tourist Office.
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Where does it take place — Nuits Romantiques
Théâtre du Casino Grand Cercle
200 rue du Casino, 73100 Aix-les-Bains