Les Grands Concerts de Clairvaux
Classical music concerts in the monks' dormitory of Clairvaux Abbey
2026
About Concerts de Clairvaux
Concerts de Clairvaux — edition 2026
The 2026 Grands Concerts de Clairvaux will take place on Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th in the Dortoir des convers at the Abbaye de Clairvaux. The program features three concerts: a piano recital by Denis Pascal (Haydn, Schubert, Chopin, Satie) on Saturday at 4:00 PM, a trio performance by Paolo Rigutto, Anne-Lise Durantel, and Éric Villeminey (Mendelssohn, Piazzolla) on Sunday at 11:00 AM, and Caldara's Il giuoco del quadriglio by the Quam Dilecta ensemble on Sunday at 4:00 PM. Lunch is available on-site on Sunday at 1:00 PM, by reservation only.
The 2026 Grands Concerts de Clairvaux
The 2026 edition will be held on Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th in the Dortoir des convers at the Abbaye de Clairvaux. Three concerts are on the program: a piano recital on Saturday at 4:00 PM, a chamber music trio on Sunday at 11:00 AM, and a baroque mini-opera on Sunday at 4:00 PM. Each concert requires a separate ticket.
Denis Pascal opens the weekend with works by Haydn, Schubert, Chopin, and Satie, including a fascinating interplay between Satie's Gnossiennes and three pieces by Chopin. A professor at the CNSM in Paris, he also performs with his sons Alexandre (violin) and Aurélien (cello) in the Trio Pascal.
On Sunday morning, Paolo Rigutto (piano), Anne-Lise Durantel (violin), and Éric Villeminey (cello) will give the first concert of their trio at Clairvaux, featuring Mendelssohn's Trio No. 1 followed by Piazzolla's Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, arranged by José Bragato.
On Sunday afternoon, the Dortoir des convers will host an opera for the first time: Antonio Caldara's Il giuoco del quadriglio, a baroque mini-opera staged by the Metz-based ensemble Quam Dilecta under the direction of Jean-Christophe Frisch, preceded by the overture and prologue of Henri Desmarets' Renaud. The libretto depicts four women at the Viennese court playing a game of cards, the quadrille.
A lunch will be served at the Pavillon des Enfants on Sunday at 1:00 PM, between the day's two concerts. This is reserved for festival-goers and requires a booking. During the weekend, the abbey will only be open for tours on Saturday at 10:30 AM.
Highlights Concerts de Clairvaux 2026
- Denis Pascal, piano recital featuring Haydn, Schubert, Chopin, and Satie — Saturday 26th at 4:00 PM
- First public concert by the Rigutto / Durantel / Villeminey trio, featuring Mendelssohn's Trio No. 1 — Sunday 27th at 11:00 AM
- Il giuoco del quadriglio by Caldara performed by Quam Dilecta: the first opera ever held in the Dortoir des convers — Sunday 27th at 4:00 PM
- Free admission for children under 18 accompanied by an adult for all three concerts
- Lunch at the Pavillon des Enfants on Sunday at 1:00 PM, 24 € (12 € for children under 10)
Programme Concerts de Clairvaux 2026
Saturday, September 26th, 2026
- 10:30 AM — Abbey tour · the only tour slot for the weekend, booking by phone recommended
- 4:00 PM — Denis Pascal, piano recital · Dortoir des convers · 30 €
- Joseph Haydn, Variations in F minor Hob. XVII/6
- Franz Schubert, 4 Impromptus op. 142
- Erik Satie, Gnossienne No. 1
- Frédéric Chopin, Nocturne op. 15 No. 3
- Erik Satie, Valse du précieux dégoûté
- Erik Satie, Trois Gymnopédies
- Erik Satie, Gnossienne No. 4
- Frédéric Chopin, Polonaise-Fantaisie op. 61
- Erik Satie, Gnossienne No. 3
- Frédéric Chopin, Ballade No. 4 op. 52
Sunday, September 27th, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Paolo Rigutto (piano), Anne-Lise Durantel (violin), Éric Villeminey (cello), chamber music trio · Dortoir des convers · 20 €
- Felix Mendelssohn, Trio No. 1 in D minor op. 49 for piano, violin, and cello
- Astor Piazzolla, Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, arranged for piano, violin, and cello by José Bragato
- 1:00 PM — Lunch at the Pavillon des Enfants · reserved for festival-goers, booking required · 24 € per adult (aperitif, wine, and coffee included), 12 € for children under 10 · Menu: Burgundy parsley ham salad, beef fricassee with cranberries and sides, apple-walnut crumble tart
- 4:00 PM — Il giuoco del quadriglio (The Game of Quadrille), baroque mini-opera by the Quam Dilecta ensemble, conducted by Jean-Christophe Frisch · Dortoir des convers · 30 €
- Henri Desmarets, overture and prologue from Renaud
- Giovanni Benedetto Platti, Cello and Basso Continuo Sonata No. 1
- Antonio Caldara, Il giuoco del quadriglio
Cast of the mini-opera: Louise Decreux, soprano (Camilla); Maë Ettioutioui, mezzo-soprano (Ottavia); Charlotte Lê-Bury, soprano (Clarice); Lilia Léonard, mezzo-soprano (Livia); Florentin Aquenin, baritone and narrator. Director: Florentin Aquenin. Costumes and props: Elisabeth Neumuller.
No abbey tours are available on Sunday, September 27th. All three concerts are free for children under 18 when accompanied by an adult. The organizers note that the programs listed in the brochure are subject to change.
Prices Concerts de Clairvaux 2026
Sunday, September 27th, 11:00 AM — Chamber music trio: 20 €
Sunday, September 27th, 4:00 PM — Quam Dilecta: 30 €
Free for children under 18 accompanied by an adult for all three concerts.
Sunday lunch at 1:00 PM at the Pavillon des Enfants: 24 € per adult, including aperitif, wine, and coffee; 12 € for children under 10. By reservation only, reserved for festival-goers.
Book online via Weezevent, or by mail using the booking form downloadable from the abbey's website, accompanied by a check made out to the Association Renaissance de l'Abbaye de Clairvaux.
Tickets are non-transferable; ID checks will be performed at the entrance. Seating is unassigned and will be managed by our volunteer team on-site.
Practical information — Concerts de Clairvaux
Access
Location: Abbaye de Clairvaux, Lay Brothers' Dormitory, 10310 Ville-sous-la-Ferté.
By car: 3 km from the A5 motorway, exit 23. From Bar-sur-Aube (12 km), take the D396 towards Clairvaux; from Troyes (60 km), take the N19 then the D396. Allow 15 minutes from Bar-sur-Aube, 30 minutes from Bar-sur-Seine or Chaumont, 45 minutes from Troyes, 1 hour 40 minutes from Reims, and 2 hours from Paris.
Parking: Free parking is available at the abbey entrance.
Schedule
Three concerts over the weekend: Saturday at 4:00 PM, Sunday at 11:00 AM, and Sunday at 4:00 PM. Sunday lunch is served at 1:00 PM, by reservation.
Abbey tour schedules are adjusted during the concert weekend.
Pricing
Tickets can be purchased online via Weezevent or by mail using the booking form available on the abbey's website. Prices are set per concert.
Contact
Association Renaissance de l'Abbaye de Clairvaux, Hostellerie des Dames, 10310 Clairvaux.
Phone: 03 25 27 52 55, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
Website: www.abbayedeclairvaux.com
Clairvaux Abbey: The Cradle of the Cistercian Order
Clairvaux Abbey was founded on June 25, 1115, by Bernard of Clairvaux and twelve monks in a secluded clearing in the Val d'Absinthe, along the banks of the Aube river. As the third daughter house of Cîteaux, it quickly grew into one of Europe's most significant monasteries. Bernard's renown drew recruits from across the continent, and between 1115 and 1153, 888 monks passed through Clairvaux, including a future pope, Eugene III. The abbey went on to establish 70 daughter abbeys throughout Europe.
The Lay Brothers' Dormitory
Concerts are held in the lay brothers' dormitory, a 12th-century building running along the western wing of the cloister. Originally, the ground floor housed a cellar and a refectory, while the dormitory occupied the upper floor. Its vast space, natural light, and clean lines make it one of the best-preserved examples of late 12th-century Cistercian architecture, and its stone vaults provide exceptional acoustics.
Three Concerts Over a September Weekend
Every September, the Grands Concerts de Clairvaux bring together soloists and chamber music ensembles for a weekend of performances: one concert on Saturday afternoon and two on Sunday. The repertoire spans from the Baroque era to the 20th century. Previous editions have featured Mozart's Requiem, Beethoven's lieder, and works by Bach, Scarlatti, and Schumann.
Lunch is served on-site on Sunday between the two daily concerts, by reservation only. The Grands Concerts are organized by the Renaissance de l'Abbaye de Clairvaux association, which manages site visits and cultural programming. Tickets are available online via Weezevent; postal reservations are also possible using the form downloadable from the abbey's website.
Where does it take place — Concerts de Clairvaux
Concerts de Clairvaux in brief
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