Festival Passions Baroques

The Festival Passions Baroques: Baroque Excellence in Occitanie

Since its creation, the Festival Passions Baroques has become one of the most important early music events in the South-West of France. Driven by the Orchestre Les Passions, an internationally renowned baroque ensemble from Montauban founded and led by Jean-Marc Andrieu, the festival offers a program of remarkable musical richness every autumn in exceptional heritage settings.

True to its mission of bridging centuries, the festival brings together ensembles and soloists from all over Europe to perform the baroque repertoire in all its splendor — from grand vocal forms to chamber music, from operas to oratorios, from sonatas to orchestral suites.

The Orchestre Les Passions: The Heart of the Festival

Founded in Montauban, the Orchestre Les Passions is the reference baroque ensemble for the Occitanie region. Recognized for the quality of its interpretations on period instruments and for its commitment to disseminating the musical heritage of the 17th and 18th centuries, it is the driving force behind this festival that resonates far beyond the borders of Tarn-et-Garonne.

Under the musical direction of Jean-Marc Andrieu, flutist and conductor, Les Passions have recorded numerous albums praised by international critics and perform at major European baroque festivals.

Exceptional Heritage Venues

One of the most appealing features of the Festival Passions Baroques is its ability to use the most remarkable monuments in the region as natural settings for baroque music. Among the venues used:

• Théâtre Olympe de Gouges — the festival's main venue, a hall with excellent acoustics in the heart of Montauban
• Église Saint-Jacques — a 14th-century Gothic building, a UNESCO World Heritage site as a stop on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route
• Musée Ingres Bourdelle — a former medieval episcopal palace converted into a museum, an intimate and historic setting
• Abbaye de Belleperche — a 13th-century Cistercian abbey in Cordes-Tolosannes, 25 km from Montauban, offering incomparable natural acoustics

This network of heritage sites makes the festival a true cultural journey through the history and art of the region.

World-Class Artists

Each edition of the festival is an opportunity to welcome internationally renowned ensembles alongside the Orchestre Les Passions. Among the ensembles and artists who have marked the festival's history:

• Le Poème Harmonique — ensemble led by Vincent Dumestre, specialists in Renaissance and early baroque music
• Jeune Orchestre Baroque Européen (JOBE) — an ensemble of young instrumentalists selected from across Europe
• Ensemble Calico — a highly reputable vocal and instrumental ensemble
• Dulci Jubilo — a vocal ensemble led by Christopher Gibert, specializing in baroque sacred repertoire
• Exceptional soloists such as Isabelle Druet (mezzo-soprano), Félix Merle (baritone), Noëlle Drost (soprano), and Arnaud Gluck (countertenor)

Masterclasses and Educational Dimension

Beyond the concerts, the festival annually offers masterclasses open to young instrumentalists and singers wishing to train with the greatest baroque specialists. These musical practice workshops, also aimed at advanced amateurs, contribute to the festival's educational vitality and the promotion of early music among new generations.

A Unique Exhibition: Opera Costumes from Versailles

The 2025 edition featured an exceptional exhibition alongside the concerts, on loan from the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles: a collection of sumptuous opera costumes from the 17th and 18th centuries, offering the public a visual journey into the world of baroque performance at the French Court. This museum-like dimension enhances the festival's unique character, at the crossroads of music, heritage, and visual arts.