Les Chaises Musicales Festival
The Ébène Quartet in the lands of Gartempe
About Les Chaises Musicales
Les Chaises Musicales: Chamber Music at the Heart of Romanesque Heritage
Since 2008, the Les Chaises Musicales festival has transformed the Romanesque church of Vicq-sur-Gartempe into an exceptional musical jewel box each summer. Born from the meeting between passionate music lovers and a promising young string quartet, the Ébène Quartet, this event has become one of the unmissable chamber music gatherings in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
A Story of Loyalty and Passion
It all began in 2003 when the Ébène Quartet, then at the beginning of their career, agreed to perform in the small church of Vicq-sur-Gartempe. Charmed by the warm welcome and the exceptional acoustics of the place, the musicians proposed to go further by creating a real three-day festival. The association Au Fil des Ondes was founded in 2007 and organized the first edition of Les Chaises Musicales in 2008, under the artistic direction of the quartet and its cellist Raphaël Merlin.
An Original Artistic Concept
True to the open-minded spirit of the Ébène Quartet, the festival weaves connections between classical music, jazz, and world music. Each edition invites leading artists—soloists, singers, instrumentalists—to share the stage with the quartet for inventive and accessible programs. The concerts take place in the Romanesque churches of the Gartempe valley, particularly in Vicq-sur-Gartempe and Saint-Pierre-de-Maillé, chosen for their superior acoustic quality.
A Human-Scale Festival
With three days of concerts in August, Les Chaises Musicales cultivates an intimate and warm atmosphere. Artists share special moments with a passionate audience in the green countryside of Vienne. The festival is part of the Résonances de Gartempe network, which unites classical music festivals along the Gartempe river, contributing to the cultural and tourist radiance of this rural territory.
Les Chaises Musicales — edition 2026
The 17th edition of the Les Chaises Musicales festival takes place on August 8 and 9, 2026, in the Romanesque church of Saint-Léger in Vicq-sur-Gartempe (Vienne). Two days of chamber music presented by the Au Fil des Ondes association, featuring a Concert Tremplin, carte blanche performances, and a baroque ensemble.
17th Edition — Les Chaises Musicales 2026
For its seventeenth edition, the Les Chaises Musicales festival takes over the Romanesque church of Saint-Léger in Vicq-sur-Gartempe on August 8 and 9, 2026. True to its spirit of chamber music in an intimate heritage setting, the 2026 edition features a Concert Tremplin reserved for young ensembles, carte blanche performances entrusted to invited soloists, as well as an ensemble of French baroque music.
The festival has been organized since 2007 by the Au Fil des Ondes association and is part of the Résonances de Gartempe festival group. One of the projects of the 2026 edition benefits from the support of the Fondation Singer-Polignac.
Programme Les Chaises Musicales 2026
Saturday, August 8, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Concert Tremplin: Quatuor Solveig (Debussy, String Quartet in G minor op. 10; Mendelssohn, String Quartet in F minor op. 80) · Église Saint-Léger
- 9:00 PM — Carte blanche to Lorraine Campet (double bass) and Akiko Yamamoto (piano) · Église Saint-Léger
Sunday, August 9, 2026
- 6:00 PM — The BanXhies, French baroque music ensemble (Yaoré Tlibart and Roxana Rastegar, violins; Suzanne Wolff, cello; Louise Acabo, harpsichord) · Église Saint-Léger
The 2026 edition offers a total of five concerts (5-concert pass available). The full program and artists for the complementary concerts are detailed on the organizer's website.
Highlights Les Chaises Musicales 2026
- Chamber music in the Romanesque church of Saint-Léger in Vicq-sur-Gartempe
- Concert Tremplin dedicated to young ensembles (Quatuor Solveig)
- French baroque ensemble The BanXhies
- Edition supported by the Fondation Singer-Polignac
Prices Les Chaises Musicales 2026
Practical information — Les Chaises Musicales
Practical Information
Access
By car: Vicq-sur-Gartempe is located 15 km northeast of Montmorillon and 60 km east of Poitiers. Follow the D727 then the D5. Free parking near the church.
Ticketing
Full price: €20 per concert. 2-concert pass: €36. 4-concert pass: €68. Half price for students, schoolchildren, and job seekers. Free for children under 12.
Reservations
By phone at 06 79 44 09 38 or by email at [email protected]. Reservations open approximately two months before the festival.
On site
Concerts in the Romanesque church of Vicq-sur-Gartempe. Refreshments and light catering offered by the association.
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Where does it take place — Les Chaises Musicales
Église Saint-Léger de Vicq-sur-Gartempe
Église romane de Vicq-sur-Gartempe, 86260 Vicq-sur-Gartempe