Lisztomanias

A unique festival dedicated to Franz Liszt

Created in 2002 in Châteauroux, Lisztomanias is the only international gathering entirely dedicated to Franz Liszt in France. This autumn festival, held annually in October, celebrates the legacy of a total artist over six intense days: virtuoso pianist, visionary composer, revolutionary conductor, legendary pedagogue, writer, and philanthropist. Since its inception, Lisztomanias has become, according to the magazine Diapason, "an unmissable event on the French musical scene".

Châteauroux, a welcoming land for romantic music

The festival takes place in several emblematic venues in Châteauroux and its metropolitan area. The Auditorium Franz Liszt at the Scène nationale Équinoxe is the heart of the festival, hosting major symphonic concerts and recitals. The city's chapels, churches, and heritage halls serve as intimate settings for chamber music, impromptu concerts, and lectures, offering a diversity of locations and atmospheres that enrich the spectator's experience.

A program between tradition and modernity

Each edition of Lisztomanias is organized around a unifying theme that renews the perspective on Liszt's work and influence. The program combines solo piano recitals, symphonic concerts, chamber music, café-concerts, musicological lectures, and literary concerts. The festival explores not only Liszt's work but also that of composers he influenced or who inspired him—from Chopin to Debussy, from Wagner to Bartók.

The Academy: transmitting the passion for piano

An essential part of Lisztomanias is dedicated to transmission. The Piano Academy welcomes talented young pianists who benefit from master classes given by internationally renowned artists. The concerts by young virtuosos from the Liszt Academy allow the public to discover future piano stars. Workshops for children and outreach programs for underserved audiences complete this educational and humanistic dimension, true to the philanthropic spirit of Liszt himself.

A European network around Liszt

Lisztomanias is part of a European cultural network through the European Liszt Network and Lisztomanias Internationales, which extend the festival's reach far beyond the borders of the Berry region. This network of partnerships with European musical institutions enables artist exchanges, co-productions, and the promotion of Lisztian heritage on a continental scale. The festival attracts approximately 5,000 spectators each year, confirming its status as a benchmark in the world of classical music.