Les Escales Brivadoises

Les Escales Brivadoises: Twenty Years of Music and Live Performance in Haute-Loire

Since 2005, the Les Escales Brivadoises festival has offered an original and demanding program each year around a chosen theme, blending classical music, theater, dance, and multidisciplinary creations in the most beautiful heritage sites of the Brivadois region. Founded by the association Musique Sur un Plateau, created in September 2002, the festival pursues four objectives: the promotion of music, support for young talents, the intersection of artistic disciplines, and the enhancement of Haute-Auvergne's historical sites.

A Committed Artistic Direction

Violinist Gersende Mondani, trained at the conservatories of Lyon and Rueil-Malmaison, has been the artistic director of the festival since its creation. A laureate of violin and chamber music awards, she also completed her training at the ATRE theater workshop in Lyon, which fuels her multidisciplinary vision of the festival. A founding member of the Quatuor Adélys, she invites established and emerging artists each year to share the stage in original creations blending music, theater, and poetry.

Themes That Tell a Story

Each edition of the festival is built around a unifying theme that gives color and coherence to the entire program. Over the years, Les Escales have explored universes as varied as "Côté cour... Côté jardin" (12th edition, 2016), "Mediterranean" (14th edition, 2018), "A Hundred Words" (15th edition, 2019), "Dear Mozart" (2021), "Baroque Enjoy", "Postcards", and "Gourmandises" for the 20th anniversary edition in 2025. This thematic approach allows for a renewed experience and surprises a loyal audience while attracting new spectators.

Exceptional Heritage Sites

One of the festival's great strengths is its use of remarkable heritage sites in the Brivadois region for its concerts and performances. The Saint-Julien de Brioude basilica, a jewel of Auvergne Romanesque art, the Saint-Pierre de Blesle abbey church, the Lamothe castle, the Hôtel particulier du Doyenné in Brioude, and the Visitation convent offer unique acoustics and atmospheres that enhance musical performances. The festival thus actively contributes to the valorization of Haute-Loire's heritage.

The Escales Academy: Transmitting and Sharing

In addition to the festival, the Escales Academy is held every summer at the Visitation convent in Brioude. For about ten days, participants from all over France, aged 7 to 77, benefit from masterclasses and intensive courses taught by high-level professors in violin, cello, viola, piano, and chamber music. The Academy also offers public concerts throughout the course, allowing the residents of Brioude and visitors to enjoy music in a warm and accessible atmosphere.

A Festival Rooted in its Territory

Chaired by Dominique Dubray, a renowned chef in Auvergne, the Musique Sur un Plateau association benefits from the support of local authorities, the Department of Haute-Loire, and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region. The festival is fully integrated into the cultural and tourist dynamics of the territory, contributing to the influence of Brioude and the Brivadois region far beyond departmental borders.