Les Nuits Lyriques de Marmande
Lyric festival and international singing competition in Lot-et-Garonne
About Nuits Lyriques de Marmande
Les Nuits Lyriques de Marmande: Lyric Art in the Heart of Lot-et-Garonne
The history of Les Nuits Lyriques de Marmande began in 1988 when Jean Léquipé, choirmaster of the Paris Opera, established a summer musical program in Marmande. From this initiative, the idea of a singing competition quickly emerged, presided over by Jean Giraudeau, a renowned tenor and respected teacher. The competition's reputation grew rapidly, and the festival began to produce complete lyric works: The Magic Flute, Carmen, The Land of Smiles…
A Constantly Evolving Festival
In 1995, after the passing of Jean Giraudeau, Michèle Herbé took over as artistic director. Philippe Mestres, director of the accredited Music School of Marmande, then held both the positions of president and musical director. In the same year, the Orchestre des Symphonistes d'Aquitaine was created to accompany the festival's lyric productions, bringing a professional orchestral dimension to the performances.
A Rich and Diverse Program
Each summer, the festival offers a week of events centered around several highlights:
- Opera: A major lyric production performed by young professional singers accompanied by the Orchestre des Symphonistes d'Aquitaine at the Théâtre Comoedia
- Opera Recitals: Intimate moments to discover the lyric repertoire from a different perspective
- Cinema: Screenings related to the world of opera and music
- Opera in the Meadow (L'Opéra est dans le Pré): An original concept that brings lyric art outdoors, into the natural landscapes of the Marmande region
- Traveling Lyric Brigades (Les Brigades Lyriques Itinérantes): Musical interventions that spread lyric art throughout the local communities
The International Singing Competition of Marmande
A true showcase of the festival, the International Singing Competition of Marmande welcomes nearly 200 young artists from over 30 countries each year. This competition has become one of the essential events for young lyric singers at the beginning of their professional careers. The jury, composed exclusively of professionals from the lyric world—theater directors, conductors, artistic agents—evaluates candidates in two categories: Opera and French Mélodie.
The semi-finals and finals, open to the public, offer moments of great musical intensity and allow the Marmande audience to discover the future voices of the international lyric repertoire.
A Mission: To Democratize Lyric Art in Rural Areas
Since its creation, the mission of Les Nuits Lyriques has been to promote lyric art in rural areas, from Marmande, by showcasing emerging young professional singers. The festival plays an essential role in the cultural influence of the Val de Garonne and contributes to making opera accessible to audiences who do not necessarily have access to the major lyric stages of large cities.
Nuits Lyriques de Marmande — edition 2026
38th edition of the Nuits Lyriques de Marmande, from August 21st to 28th, 2026. A week dedicated to lyrical art at the Théâtre Comoedia and in the Marmande region: the opera Les Pêcheurs de Perles by Bizet as the opening on August 21st, the cine-concert West Side Story, the concert "L'Opéra est dans le Pré" in Meilhan-sur-Garonne, the lyrical cabaret Singing Broadway, followed by the 38th International Singing Competition from August 25th to 28th.
38th Edition — August 21st to 28th, 2026
The 38th edition of the Nuits Lyriques de Marmande takes over the Théâtre Comoedia and several locations in the Marmande region for a week of lyrical festivities combining opera, recitals, cinema, and a singing competition.
Festival Program
- Friday, August 21st — 8:30 PM, Théâtre Comoedia: Les Pêcheurs de Perles, opera in three acts by Georges Bizet. With Amandine Sanchez (Leïla), Jean Miannay (Nadir), Haewan Lee (Zurga) and Sulkhan Jaiani (Nourabad). Musical direction Philippe Mestres, staging Hye Myung Kang.
- Saturday, August 22nd — 8:30 PM, Cinéma Le Plaza: screening of West Side Story (film by Steven Spielberg).
- Sunday, August 23rd — 7:00 PM, Meilhan-Garonne: "L'Opéra est dans le Pré" — Labyrinthe Baroque, with Anousha Nazari (mezzo-soprano) and Antoine Morinière (guitar).
- Monday, August 24th — 8:30 PM, Théâtre Comoedia: Singing Broadway, lyrical cabaret with Céline Laborie, Émilie Rose Bry and Edwige Geoffroy.
- Tuesday, August 25th to Friday, August 28th — Théâtre Comoedia: 38th International Singing Competition.
38th International Singing Competition
The competition takes place in three stages at the Théâtre Comoedia, in two categories (Opera and French Melody):
- Pre-selections: Tuesday, August 25th and Wednesday, August 26th (free admission).
- Semi-finals: Thursday, August 27th.
- Finals: Friday, August 28th (5:00 PM for Melody, 8:00 PM for Opera).
Registrations for the competition close on July 5th, 2026.
Programme Nuits Lyriques de Marmande 2026
Friday, August 21st, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Les Pêcheurs de Perles, opera by Georges Bizet · Théâtre Comoedia. Amandine Sanchez (Leïla), Jean Miannay (Nadir), Haewan Lee (Zurga), Sulkhan Jaiani (Nourabad). Musical direction: Philippe Mestres; staging: Hye Myung Kang.
Saturday, August 22nd, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Cinema: West Side Story (Steven Spielberg) · Cinéma Le Plaza.
Sunday, August 23rd, 2026
- 7:00 PM — "L'Opéra est dans le Pré": Labyrinthe Baroque · Meilhan-sur-Garonne. Anousha Nazari (mezzo-soprano), Antoine Morinière (guitar).
Monday, August 24th, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Singing Broadway, lyrical cabaret · Théâtre Comoedia. Céline Laborie, Émilie Rose Bry, Edwige Geoffroy.
Tuesday, August 25th to Friday, August 28th, 2026 — 38th International Singing Competition · Théâtre Comoedia
- August 25th and 26th — Pre-selections (free admission).
- August 27th — Semi-finals.
- August 28th — Finals: 5:00 PM (French Melody), 8:00 PM (Opera).
Highlights Nuits Lyriques de Marmande 2026
- Opening opera: Les Pêcheurs de Perles by Bizet (August 21st, Théâtre Comoedia)
- Decentralized concert "L'Opéra est dans le Pré" in Meilhan-sur-Garonne
- Lyrical cabaret Singing Broadway
- 38th International Singing Competition (Opera and French Melody categories)
Prices Nuits Lyriques de Marmande 2026
Practical information — Nuits Lyriques de Marmande
Practical Information
Main Venue
The performances and the competition take place at the Théâtre Comoedia, located at 32 rue Léopold Faye, 47200 Marmande. Some events are held outdoors as part of 'L'Opéra est dans le Pré'.
Dates
The festival takes place annually during the last week of August, lasting approximately one week. The program is structured around opera at the beginning of the week, followed by recitals, cinema, and 'L'Opéra est dans le Pré', and concluding with the International Singing Competition at the end of the week.
Access
- By Car: Marmande is located on the A62 motorway (Bordeaux-Toulouse), exit n°5 Marmande. The Théâtre Comoedia is in the city center, a few minutes from the motorway exit.
- By Train: Marmande station, served by TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Bordeaux-Agen line). The theater is about a 10-minute walk from the station.
Prices
- Category 1: €35
- Category 2: €30
- Reduced Price: €30
The competition is open to the public. The semi-finals and finals are open to all.
Booking
Tickets are available online on the official website www.nuits-lyriques.fr or at the festival's ticket office.
Ticket Office Hours
- June: Monday from 2 PM to 6 PM, Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 2 PM to 6 PM
- July and August: Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 1 PM and from 2 PM to 6:30 PM
Contact
- Address: Nuits Lyriques de Marmande, 18 boulevard Fourcade, 47200 Marmande
- Phone: 05 53 89 68 75
- Email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Nuits Lyriques de Marmande
Théâtre Comoedia
32 rue Léopold Faye, 47200 Marmande