Festival Henri Dutilleux

The Festival Henri Dutilleux: The Legacy of a Great French Composer

Since 2021, the Festival Henri Dutilleux, subtitled “Au fil de l'onde”, celebrates the work and spirit of one of the greatest French composers of the 20th century. Supported by the Maison Dutilleux-Joy, an artist residency located in Candes-Saint-Martin in the very house where Henri Dutilleux lived, the festival offers an ambitious program blending tradition and creation.

The Maison Dutilleux-Joy: A Place of Memory and Creation

Inaugurated in accordance with the wishes of Henri Dutilleux and his wife, the pianist Geneviève Joy, the Maison Dutilleux-Joy hosts musicians, composers, and performers in residence throughout the year. This meeting and creation space is the beating heart of the festival, which is its annual highlight. The Fondation du Patrimoine has contributed to the artist residency project, confirming the cultural importance of this place.

An Original Programming Principle

The festival's philosophy is based on an original musical triptych: each concert combines a work by Dutilleux, a reference piece from the classical repertoire, and a contemporary creation. This principle allows Dutilleux's work to be placed within the great musical tradition while opening it up to the most current trends in creation, true to the composer's spirit of openness.

A Multidisciplinary Festival

Beyond concerts — symphonic and chamber — the festival offers masterclasses, study days, electroacoustic installations, performance-meetings, educational creations, and presentations of commissioned works. This richness of formats makes the festival a multidisciplinary event where contemporary music is explored in all its forms.

A Festival Rooted in the Chinon Region

The festival takes place in the territory of the Chinon Vienne et Loire community of municipalities, utilizing heritage sites in Chinon, Avoine, Huismes, and Candes-Saint-Martin. This village, located at the confluence of the Vienne and the Loire, offers an exceptional natural and architectural setting, dominated by its famous Romanesque collegiate church, a listed historic monument.

A Biennial Rhythm

The Festival Henri Dutilleux is held on a biennial rhythm, with editions organized every two years in May. Between festival editions, the Maison Dutilleux-Joy continues to host artists in residence and offer occasional musical events, keeping the flame of contemporary creation alive in Touraine.