Les Heures Musicales de Cunault
Classical concerts in the Romanesque priory of Cunault
About Heures Musicales de Cunault
Les Heures Musicales de Cunault: Over Forty Years of Music in a Romanesque Gem
The history of Les Heures Musicales de Cunault began in 1972 with the creation of the Association des Amis de l'Orgue de Cunault, whose mission was to restore and promote the organ heritage of the Prieurale Notre-Dame de Cunault. The first concert took place on September 25, 1983, marking the beginning of a musical adventure that has lasted for over forty years.
An Exceptional Architectural Setting
The concerts are held in two remarkable Romanesque buildings in the commune of Gennes-Val-de-Loire:
- The Prieurale Notre-Dame de Cunault, a masterpiece of 12th-century Angevin Romanesque art, whose monumental nave and 223 sculpted capitals offer an exceptional setting and acoustics for music.
- The Saint-Aubin de Trèves church, another Romanesque gem of the valley, whose intimacy is perfectly suited for chamber music concerts.
A Repertoire Centered on Organ and Sacred Music
Born around the Cunault organ, the festival's programming has gradually expanded to encompass a repertoire ranging from sacred and Baroque music to classical and contemporary music. Organ recitals, vocal ensembles, chamber music (trios, quartets), soloists (trumpet, violin, piano), and orchestral ensembles follow one another throughout the season, making the most of the unique acoustics of these ancient buildings.
Le Mai de l'Orgue and Les Heures Musicales
The association organizes two concert series each year:
- Le Mai de l'Orgue (The Organ May), in spring, dedicated to organ recitals in the Prieurale de Cunault.
- Les Heures Musicales de Cunault (The Musical Hours of Cunault), in summer, offering classical and chamber music concerts from June to August in the Prieurale and the church of Trèves.
Under the artistic direction of Amandine DuchĂŞnes and Thomas Pellerin, the festival continues its mission to promote the musical and architectural heritage of the Loire Valley, welcoming talented artists in a setting of striking beauty.
Heures Musicales de Cunault — edition 2026
The 43rd edition of Les Heures Musicales de Cunault takes place from June 7 to August 16, 2026, in the Prieurale Notre-Dame de Cunault and the church Saint-Aubin de Trèves, in Gennes-Val-de-Loire. Five exceptional concerts punctuate the summer season, preceded by the traditional Organ May (May 10, 17, and 24, 2026, free admission) which welcomes three young organists from South Korea, France, and Spain.
43rd Edition — Summer 2026
For their 43rd season, Les Heures Musicales de Cunault offer five exceptional concerts between June 7 and August 16, 2026, distributed between the Prieurale Notre-Dame de Cunault and the church Saint-Aubin de Trèves. Under the artistic direction of Amandine Duchênes and Thomas Pellerin, the Association des Amis de l'Orgue de Cunault confirms the diversity of its program: four-hand organ recital, prestigious string orchestra, virtuoso cello-guitar and flute-harp duos, and a grand choral form for the closing.
Organ May
As a preamble, Organ May welcomes three young organists on May 10, 17, and 24, 2026, at the Prieurale de Cunault (free admission and participation): Suhyeon Yu (South Korea), CĂ©lestin Manneufville (France), and Sarah PĂ©rarnaud Aramendi (Spain).
Headliners 2026
- Marie-Ange Leurent and Eric Lebrun in a four-hand organ recital
- String Orchestra of the Garde RĂ©publicaine conducted by SĂ©bastien Billard, with Arthur Lamarre on cello as soloist
- François Salque (cello) and Samuel Strouk (guitar) with their duo Loco Cello
- Juliette Hurel (flute) and Isabelle Moretti (harp)
- Chœur Mikrokosmos directed by Loïc Pierre in the show « Saga des peuples sans armure », with the Paris Taiko Ensemble and percussionist Balthazar Serna
Programme Heures Musicales de Cunault 2026
Sunday, June 7, 2026 — 5:00 PM · Prieurale de Cunault
Prelude to the summer season — Four-hand organ recital with Marie-Ange Leurent and Eric Lebrun.
- Lully: Suite d'Armide (Ouverture, Gavotte, Menuet, Canaries)
- Haendel: De Torrente; The Great Halleluia
- Bach: Suite in D major BWV 1068 (Bourrée, Air, Gavotte, Gigue)
- Mozart: Sonata in D major K. 448
- Merkel: Sonata (1st movement, Psalm 42)
- Fauré: Pavane
- Bizet: Menuet and Farandole from L'Arlésienne Suite n°2
Sunday, July 26, 2026 — 5:00 PM · Prieurale de Cunault
String Orchestra of the Garde RĂ©publicaine under the direction of SĂ©bastien Billard, with Arthur Lamarre as cello soloist (12-string formation). Works by Britten, Piazzolla, and Turina.
Sunday, August 2, 2026 — 5:00 PM · Église Saint-Aubin de Trèves
Loco Cello — François Salque (cello) and Samuel Strouk (guitar).
- Tchaikovsky: Valse sentimentale
- Mendelssohn: Adagio
- Strouk: Lhassa
- Popper: Hungarian Rhapsody
- Piazzolla: Oblivion
- Maratka / Dolinova: Csardas
- Piazzolla / Salque / Strouk: Seul tout seul – Armageddon
- Grappelli / Salque / Strouk: Cello Medley; Hungarian themes medley
Sunday, August 9, 2026 — 5:00 PM · Église Saint-Aubin de Trèves
Juliette Hurel (flute) and Isabelle Moretti (harp).
- Clémence de Grandval: Valse mélancolique
- Jean Cras: Suite en duo
- Debussy: Syrinx; Arabesque n°1; Clair de lune
- Fauré: Clair de lune; Sicilienne
- Ravel: Habanera
- Ibert: Entr'acte
- Piazzolla: excerpts from « L'Histoire du Tango »
Sunday, August 16, 2026 — 5:00 PM · Prieurale de Cunault
Chœur Mikrokosmos directed and staged by Loïc Pierre, with the Paris Taiko Ensemble (direction Tulga Yesilalta) and Balthazar Serna (percussion).
Show « Saga des peuples sans armure » — works by Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis, Cyrillus Kreek, and Jean-Jacques Lemêtre.
Highlights Heures Musicales de Cunault 2026
- Four-hand organ recital with Marie-Ange Leurent and Eric Lebrun (June 7)
- String Orchestra of the Garde RĂ©publicaine, conducted by SĂ©bastien Billard (July 26)
- Cello-guitar duo Loco Cello: François Salque & Samuel Strouk (August 2)
- Flute-harp duo Juliette Hurel & Isabelle Moretti (August 9)
- Chœur Mikrokosmos and « Saga des peuples sans armure » with Paris Taiko Ensemble (August 16)
- Three free Organ May recitals (May 10, 17, and 24) with young international organists
Prices Heures Musicales de Cunault 2026
Practical information — Heures Musicales de Cunault
Practical Information
Concert Venues
Prieurale Notre-Dame de Cunault, Place Victor Dialand, 49350 Gennes-Val-de-Loire. Saint-Aubin de Trèves church, Gennes-Val-de-Loire.
Dates
Mai de l'Orgue in May-June. Heures Musicales de Cunault from June to August. Occasional concerts on Sundays.
Access
By car: Cunault is located 15 km west of Saumur via the D751 along the Loire. Free parking near the priory.
By train: Saumur station (15 km), then car.
Prices
Concerts are ticketed. Reservations and information on the website lesheuresmusicalesdecunault.fr or by phone at 06 44 77 57 56.
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Where does it take place — Heures Musicales de Cunault
Prieurale Notre-Dame de Cunault
Place Victor Dialand, 49350 Gennes-Val-de-Loire