Festival Va Jouer Dehors

Festival Va Jouer Dehors: Classical Music Escapes into Nature

Born from the initiative of two young musicians — Marie Wacquez, saxophonist, and Perrine Guillemot, violist with the Lyon Orchestra — the Va Jouer Dehors Festival was founded in Blois, in Loir-et-Cher. Returning from studies in Canada, the two artists wanted to offer a new vision of classical music, free from traditional concert halls, accessible to everyone, and in harmony with nature.

Concerts in the Blois State Forest

The heart of the festival beats in the Blois state forest, a vast forest massif of over 3,000 hectares managed by the National Forests Office. It is in this majestic setting that musicians set up their instruments amidst the oaks and pines, offering the public remarkably high-quality open-air concerts. One of the highlights of the last edition brought together 200 people in front of the uNopia stage truck for a recital by pianist Guilhem Fabre, accompanied by actor François Michonneau.

An Eclectic Repertoire and Unusual Venues

The festival's programming transcends stylistic boundaries: from Telemann to Kurt Weill, from Mozart to Ligeti, from harpsichord to piano, the musicians explore a vast and surprising repertoire. Concerts take place in locations chosen for their beauty and uniqueness: forest clearings, castle gardens, the banks of the Loire, public parks, and vineyards. Each concert is an invitation to a musical stroll, where the audience discovers the music as much as the landscape.

A Philosophy of Openness and Sharing

True to its founding spirit, the festival favors free admission or pay-what-you-can for its concerts, in order to reach the widest possible audience. Families, walkers, passing tourists, and seasoned music lovers gather in a relaxed atmosphere, with their feet in the grass, to share an unforgettable musical moment. The festival actively contributes to the cultural influence of the Blois region and the enhancement of the natural heritage of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A Festival Rooted in the Territory

Over the editions, Va Jouer Dehors has forged close ties with cultural and institutional players in Loir-et-Cher: the ONF, municipalities, castles, and local associations. The festival is part of the department's summer cultural season and fits into the tourist dynamic of the Blois-Chambord destination. It demonstrates that classical music can be popular, festive, and deeply rooted in a territory.