Les 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 Duchênes 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.