Messiaen Festival in the Land of Meije

George Benjamin Honored in 2026

The 28th edition of the Festival Messiaen au Pays de la Meije takes place from July 25 to August 1, 2026. It pays tribute to British composer and conductor George Benjamin, a major figure in contemporary music, present throughout the festival to conduct, perform, and interact with the public.

Around him, two leading ensembles: the Ensemble intercontemporain, founded by Pierre Boulez, and the Quatuor Diotima, one of the great string quartets of the contemporary repertoire. Composers Tristan Murail, Michaël Lévinas, Hugues Dufourt, and Roger Tessier, founders of the L'Itinéraire ensemble and heirs to Olivier Messiaen's teachings, are among the guests of honor.

A Festival in Messiaen's Land

True to its identity, the festival unfolds its program between the church of La Grave, the Lautaret alpine garden, the venues of Briançonnais (Le Monêtier-les-Bains, Saint-Chaffrey, Villar-d'Arêne) and Matheysine, landscapes that inspired Olivier Messiaen. Conferences, musical hikes, and waterside serenades facing the Meije glaciers complement the major evening concerts.

Saturday, July 25 — Opening in Matheysine (Isère)

• 9:00 AM — Belvédère Olivier Messiaen, Saint-Théoffrey: Sensitive Natural Area workshop
• 2:00 PM — Jardin de la Maison Messiaen: Kamicyclette with Christophe Mercier
• 6:00 PM — Ciné-Théâtre, La Mure: Ensemble intercontemporain (cond. Pierre Bleuse, cello Éric-Maria Couturier) — works by George Benjamin, world premiere by A. Herrmann, Unsuk Chin
• 9:00 PM — Plage du lac de Petichet, Saint-Théoffrey: Technochromie #2 evening (Xavier Garcia, composition/improvisation; Philippe Geoffroy, pyrotechnician) and fireworks

Sunday, July 26 — La Grave Church

• 9:00 PM — 'Fioretti et Uccellini': piano Marie Vermeulin, soprano Parveen Sarvat — Messiaen; world premiere Lavandier/Boyer

Monday, July 27

• 8:30 AM — Hike 'Glacier and Climate' (full day, La Grave-La Meije Guides Office)
• 9:00 PM — Salle du Dôme, Le Monêtier-les-Bains: 'Into the Little Hill', Ensemble intercontemporain cond. George Benjamin (sopranos Jenny Daviet, Joanne Evans; flute Sophie Cherrier; violas Odile Auboin, John Stulz) — works by Benjamin

Tuesday, July 28 — La Grave Church

• 5:00 PM — 'La Forêt': piano Jean-François Heisser — Schumann, Messiaen, Liszt, Schubert/Liszt, Chabrier, Roussel, Ravel, Takemitsu, Sibelius
• 9:00 PM — 'Divisions': pianos Pierre-Laurent Aimard and George Benjamin — Messiaen, Obukhov, Scriabine, French premiere by Benjamin

Wednesday, July 29

• 11:00 AM — Jardin du Lautaret: conference 'Portrait of George Benjamin' by Gaëtan Puaud, in the presence of the composer
• 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM — Jardin du Lautaret: serenades (in partnership with IESM Aix-en-Provence) — Enescu, Messiaen, Tchaïkovski, Henze, Sollima
• 5:00 PM — La Grave Church: Diotima Quartet (1/3) — Pesson, Mason, Mochizuki
• 9:00 PM — La Grave Church: 'Quartet for the End of Time', Trio Moreau (cello Edgar, violin David, piano Jérémie) and clarinet Patrick Messina — Messiaen

Thursday, July 30 — La Grave Church

• 8:30 AM — Hike 'Medicinal and Edible Flora' (half-day)
• 5:00 PM — Diotima Quartet (2/3) with clarinet Patrick Messina — Szymanowski, world premiere Lévinas, Mozart
• 9:00 PM — 'Harawi': soprano Karen Vourc'h, piano Anne Le Bozec — Messiaen

Friday, July 31

• 5:00 PM — Saint-Chaffrey Church: Diotima Quartet (3/3) with soprano Karen Vourc'h — Saariaho, Debussy
• 9:00 PM — Salle du Dôme, Le Monêtier-les-Bains: 'Diffractions', Ensemble TM+ cond. Marc Desmons, installation by Justine Emard — Murail, Ravel, Markeas, Messiaen, Harrison, Tulve

Saturday, August 1

• 11:00 AM — Jardin du Lautaret: conference 'Music and Mathematics' by Karen Vourc'h
• 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM — Jardin du Lautaret: serenades (mandolin Raphaël Gillet-Bouvatier, horn Nathan Chauvaux) — Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Messiaen, Della Vecchia, Piazzolla, Wurbel
• 5:00 PM — Villar-d'Arêne Church: 'Cinq Rechants', Musicatreize cond. Roland Hayrabedian — Messiaen, Achenberg, Hersant, Petrossian
• 9:00 PM — La Grave Church: 'Uccellini et Fioretti', piano Marie Vermeulin (Messiaen), flute Anne-Cécile Cuniot, clarinet Mathieu Steffanus, piano Géraldine Dutroncy — Messiaen; world premiere Moultaka/Desbiolles

• George Benjamin, featured composer, present at the festival (conducting and piano)
• Ensemble intercontemporain and Quatuor Diotima in residence
• Messiaen's 'Quartet for the End of Time' by Trio Moreau and Patrick Messina
• Piano concert by Pierre-Laurent Aimard / George Benjamin ('Divisions')
• Several world premieres and conferences at the Lautaret garden facing the Meije glaciers

Practical Information

Access

The festival primarily takes place at the Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, Place de l'Église, 05320 La Grave, in the Hautes-Alpes.

• By car: La Grave is located on the RN91, between Briançon (40 km) and Grenoble (90 km), at the foot of the Col du Lautaret. Free parking in the village.
• By train: Briançon SNCF station (40 km away), then shuttle or bus.

Schedule

• Concerts at 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM depending on the program.
• Morning serenades at the Jardin du Lautaret (free entry).
• Conferences and educational events during the day.

Prices

• 5 PM concerts: €20 (full price) / €15 (reduced price)
• 9 PM concerts: €30 (full price) / €23 (reduced price)
• Under 12 years old: free
• Under 25 years old: "you pay your age"
• Discovery Pass 4 concerts: €75
• Discovery Pass 6 concerts: €110
• Passionate Pass (16 concerts + 3 hikes): €325
• Several events with free entry (serenades, conferences)

Ticketing

• Online: festivalmessiaen.com/billetterie
• On-site: at the entrance of the concerts, subject to availability
• Payment methods: credit card, check, cash

Contact

• Phone: 04 76 79 90 05
• Ticketing: 04 74 20 20 79
• Ticketing email: [email protected]
• Website: festivalmessiaen.com