Musical Labyrinth in Rouergue

A Festival Born from Villefranche's Musical Heritage

Created in 2012, the Musical Labyrinth in Rouergue is an atypical festival that explores the unsuspected musical riches of Villefranche-de-Rouergue. The town indeed preserves two exceptional heritage treasures: the anonymous baroque scores from the archives of the Pénitents Noirs, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the second largest public collection of jazz in France. It is at the crossroads of these two legacies that the festival builds its unique programming.

Unexpected Musical Encounters

The uniqueness of the Musical Labyrinth lies in its desire to create unexpected musical encounters between baroque music, classical music, and jazz. Each edition features:

• Four major concerts of instrumental and choral music in the historic buildings of Villefranche: Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs, Église des Augustins, Collégiale Notre-Dame, Halle médiévale.
• Programs mixing works by Couperin, Corelli, Telemann, C.P.E. Bach and contemporary composers.
• Pieces from the anonymous archives of the Pénitents Noirs, rediscovered and performed for the first time.
• Dialogues between ancient music and jazz, reflecting the dual musical identity of Villefranche.

Workshops and Transmission

The festival places great importance on transmission and musical practice:

• Choral singing workshops open to all, led by professional choir directors.
• Serpent workshops: introduction to this ancient wind instrument, emblematic of the sacred baroque repertoire.
• Baroque dance workshops: learning the court dances of the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Public performance: on the last day, participants present the results of their work in a show open to all at the Halle de Villefranche.

The Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs, a Baroque Jewel

The emblematic venue of the festival is the Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs, a masterpiece of Occitan baroque art. Built in the 17th century, it houses an exceptional painted decoration of over 1,000 m2 depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ. It was in its archives that the anonymous scores inspiring the festival were discovered. The remarkable acoustics of this place make it an ideal setting for early music concerts.