Menton Music Festival

A festival born from a moment of wonder in 1949

The history of the Menton Music Festival began one afternoon in August 1949, when André Böröcz, invited by a friend, discovered the alleys of the old town and the deserted parvis of the Saint-Michel church. From a radio, the Second Partita for solo violin by Bach, performed by Jascha Heifetz, could be heard. This moment of grace, this encounter between music, baroque architecture, and Mediterranean light, became André Böröcz's quest: to relive this moment and share it with the whole world.

The Basilica Parvis: a unique baroque setting in the world

On August 5, 1950, the dream took shape: the Végh Quartet inaugurated the festival by performing works by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven on the Parvis of the Saint-Michel Archangel Basilica. This exceptional location, overlooking the Mediterranean from the old town of Menton, offers remarkable natural acoustics and a breathtaking baroque setting, with the polychrome facade of the basilica as a backdrop. The Palais de l'Europe and the Parc du Pian also host concerts.

Seventy-five years of musical excellence

Since its creation, the festival has hosted the most illustrious performers of classical music: Robert Casadesus, Wilhelm Kempff, Sviatoslav Richter, Maria-João Pirès, Isaac Stern, Mstislav Rostropovich, Jean-Pierre Rampal, and Aldo Ciccolini. Under the artistic direction of Paul-Emmanuel Thomas since 2012, the festival continues this tradition of excellence by inviting the biggest names on the international stage and rising stars.

2024 Edition: Alexandre Tharaud, Fazil Say, and Renaud Capuçon

The 75th edition took place from July 27 to August 12, 2024. The parvis vibrated to the sounds of Alexandre Tharaud with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice conducted by Lionel Bringuier, of Fazil Say, the world-renowned Turkish pianist, of Nemanja Radulović and his Double Sens Orchestra, and of Renaud Capuçon accompanied by Guillaume Bellom for the closing. Flutist Lucie Horsch, tenor Pene Pati with Ensemble Il Pomo d'Oro, Kian Soltani, and Mao Fujita completed an exceptional lineup.

2025 Edition: the 76th edition continues the excellence

The 76th edition was held from July 22 to August 8, 2025, offering an exceptional program bringing together the greatest figures of the international classical scene and the rising stars of tomorrow on the Basilica Parvis, at the Palais de l'Europe, and at the Parc du Pian.

77th edition in 2026

The 77th edition of the Menton Music Festival is scheduled from July 25 to August 7, 2026, continuing more than seven decades of exceptional concerts under the Riviera stars.