Musique en Côte Basque
Classical music festival on the Basque coast since 1960
About Musique en Côte Basque
Musique en Côte Basque: Over Sixty Years of Musical Excellence
Created in 1960 to commemorate the tricentennial of the marriage of Louis XIV and the Spanish Infanta Marie-Thérèse at the church of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Musique en Côte Basque is one of the oldest classical music festivals in France. For over six decades, this festival has brought classical music masterpieces to life in the historic venues and churches of the Basque coast.
Legendary Artists
Throughout its editions, Musique en Côte Basque has hosted the greatest names in international classical music. American soprano Jessye Norman, Polish pianist Arthur Rubinstein, German soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, American violinist Yehudi Menuhin, and Swedish soprano Barbara Hendricks are among the artists who have left their mark on the festival's history. This tradition of excellence continues with each new edition, attracting leading performers from around the world.
Three Weekends in September
The festival unfolds over three weekends in September, offering a musical journey through the ages: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary music. Concerts take place in exceptional heritage sites on the Basque coast, including the churches and cloisters of Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and surrounding towns, providing remarkable acoustics and a historic setting that enhances the musical experience.
A Festival in Transition
In 2020, Musique en Côte Basque joined forces with the Académie Ravel to create the Festival Ravel, establishing a benchmark musical hub in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. This merger has broadened the programming while preserving the legacy of over sixty years of classical music on the Basque coast. The festival continues to offer chamber music concerts, recitals, and symphonic concerts in the region's iconic venues.
A Living Musical Heritage
Musique en Côte Basque embodies the deep connection between music and the Basque territory. Composer Maurice Ravel, born in Ciboure opposite Saint-Jean-de-Luz, drew essential inspiration from Basque culture and landscapes. The festival perpetuates this heritage by making the Basque coast a leading center for musical creation and dissemination.
Musique en Côte Basque — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Musique en Côte Basque / Festival Ravel takes place from August 26 to September 5, 2026, with a focus on Spain to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Manuel de Falla's birth. The program includes: «A journey between modern Spain and dreamed Spain», nearly three weeks of symphonic concerts, chamber music, recitals, contemporary creations, and flamenco between Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Ciboure, and Urrugne.
2026 Edition — Focus on Spain, around Manuel de Falla
For the 150th anniversary of Manuel de Falla's birth, the 2026 Ravel Festival presents «A journey between modern Spain and dreamed Spain». Beyond Falla, the program explores Spanish music from baroque to contemporary creation, with works by Federico Mompou, Joaquín Turina, Antonio Soler, Joaquín Nin, Xavier Montsalvatge, Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, and José María Sánchez-Verdú.
The festival combines major symphonic concerts (Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse conducted by Josep Pons for the opening, Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine), chamber music, piano recitals, a film-concert, and a flamenco evening, in the churches and heritage sites of the Basque coast.
The full program is published on festivalravel.fr. The festival is organized by the Académie Internationale Maurice Ravel, whose Académie Ravel (educational component) runs in parallel from August 17 to 30 in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Programme Musique en Côte Basque 2026
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
- 20:00 — A Night in a Spanish Garden · Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Saint-Jean-Baptiste church · Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse, Josep Pons (conductor), Bertrand Chamayou (piano)
Thursday, August 27, 2026
- 17:00 — Homage to García Lorca · Ciboure, Saint-Vincent church · Barbara Hannigan (soprano), Bertrand Chamayou (piano)
- 20:00 — Fandango! Boccherini and Haydn at the Spanish Court · Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Saint-Jean-Baptiste church · Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Nicolas Altstaedt (conductor/cello), Enrike Solinís (guitar)
Friday, August 28, 2026
- 20:00 — Madrilenian Masses · Ciboure, Saint-Vincent church · Ensemble Les Métaboles, Léo Warynski (conductor)
Saturday, August 29, 2026
- 14:00 — Lecture: Maurice Ravel and Ricardo Viñes by Màrius Bernadó · Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Centre Culturel Peyuco Duhart
- 16:00 — Ricardo Viñes: The Belle Époque of the Piano · Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Centre Culturel Peyuco Duhart · Jean-François Heisser, Bertrand Chamayou and soloists of the Académie Ravel
- 20:00 — Andalusian Impressions: Albéniz, Iberia · Ciboure, Saint-Vincent church · Nelson Goerner (piano)
Monday, August 31, 2026
- 16:00 — Lecture: Manuel de Falla, Andalusian Musician by Katia-Sofía Hakim · Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Centre Culturel Peyuco Duhart
- 20:00 — Chopin in Valldemossa · Urrugne, Saint-Vincent church · Yulianna Avdeeva (piano), Alphonse Cemin (conductor), soloists of the Académie Ravel
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
- 17:00 — 100% Manuel de Falla · Urrugne, Saint-Vincent church · Javier Perianes (piano)
- 20:00 — Spanish Fantasies · Urrugne, Saint-Vincent church · Quatuor Quiroga, Tabea Zimmermann (viola), Javier Perianes (piano)
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- 17:00 — Film-concert: Buñuel-Dalí / Matalon · Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Centre Culturel Peyuco Duhart · Ensemble 2e2m, Léo Margue (conductor)
- 20:00 — An Evening in Granada · Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Saint-Jean-Baptiste church · Bertrand Chamayou, Jean-Frédéric Neuburger (piano)
Thursday, September 3, 2026
- 17:00 — Manuel de Falla: Inspirations and Lineages · Ciboure, CIAP Les Récollets · Benjamin Alard (harpsichord/conductor), Gabriel Pidoux (oboe), soloists of the Académie Ravel
- 20:00 — The Spanish Hour · Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Saint-Jean-Baptiste church · Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Valentina Peleggi (conductor)
Friday, September 4, 2026
- 20:00 — Federico Mompou: Gentle Heartbeats · Ciboure, CIAP Les Récollets · Jean-François Heisser (piano)
Saturday, September 5, 2026
- 17:00 — Serenata Española · Ciboure, CIAP Les Récollets · Xavier de Maistre (harp), Lucero Tena (castanets)
- 20:00 — Closing Concert (surprise program) · Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Centre Culturel Peyuco Duhart
Highlights Musique en Côte Basque 2026
- Opening concert by the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse (Josep Pons), with Bertrand Chamayou on piano
- 150th anniversary of Manuel de Falla: «A journey between modern Spain and dreamed Spain»
- Barbara Hannigan's recital in homage to García Lorca
- Buñuel-Dalí film-concert and closing flamenco evening
- Concerts in the churches and heritage sites of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Ciboure, and Urrugne
Prices Musique en Côte Basque 2026
Practical information — Musique en Côte Basque
Venues
Concerts are held in various heritage venues on the Basque coast: churches, cloisters, and concert halls in Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and surrounding towns.
Period
Three weekends in September.
Contact
- Phone: 05 59 51 19 95
- Website: musiquecotebasque.fr / festivalravel.fr
- Email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Musique en Côte Basque
Lieux patrimoniaux de la côte basque
Villa Harriet Baita, 16 avenue Larreguy, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, 64200 Biarritz