Musiques d'Automne

Musiques d'Automne: a festival in the heart of Saint-Genest-Lerpt

The Musiques d'Automne festival was held for nearly twenty editions in Saint-Genest-Lerpt, a residential commune in the Loire region located at the gates of Saint-Étienne. Every September, this musical event took over the town's emblematic venues to offer a rich and varied program, combining classical music, contemporary music, and French chanson.

An eclectic and accessible program

The strength of Musiques d'Automne lay in the diversity of its programming. The concerts covered a wide musical spectrum:

• Classical music: piano recitals, string quartets, chamber music, and symphonic works
• Contemporary music: avant-garde creations and pieces performed by specialized ensembles
• French chanson: regional and national artists perpetuating the tradition of lyrical chanson

This diversity allowed the festival to reach a broad audience, from discerning music lovers to families wishing to discover live music.

Heritage sites in service of music

The church of Saint-Genest-Lerpt, located at rue Francis Garnier, was one of the main settings for the festival. Its remarkable acoustics were particularly suited to classical music concerts and vocal recitals. Other venues in the commune, such as the salle Aristide Briand, also hosted performances.

Strong local roots

Musiques d'Automne was part of the cultural dynamic driven by the town of Saint-Genest-Lerpt and its municipal school of artistic education (ÉMEA). The festival fostered encounters between professional artists and local musicians, contributing to the cultural life of the commune and the Saint-Étienne metropolitan area.

A festival geared towards families

Committed to accessibility, the festival regularly offered concerts and workshops for young audiences, allowing children to discover instruments and classical repertoires in a friendly atmosphere. These intergenerational moments were one of the highlights of each edition.

Legacy and memory

Although the festival has not been active since 2012, Musiques d'Automne has left a lasting mark on the cultural landscape of Saint-Genest-Lerpt. The commune continues today its musical vocation through its cultural season and the activities of the ÉMEA, which perpetuate the spirit of openness and sharing that animated the festival.