Musiques en Bugey - The Ceyzérieu Concerts
Chamber music festival in the Bugey
About The Ceyzérieu Concerts
Musiques en Bugey: classical music in the heart of the Bugey Sud
Founded in 2017 by pianist Josquin Otal, artistic director since its inception, Musiques en Bugey - Les Concerts de Ceyzérieu is a chamber music festival that unfolds each summer in the Bugey Sud, in the heart of the Ain department. Based in Ceyzérieu, a rural commune nestled at the foot of the Grand Colombier, on the doorstep of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, the festival transforms community halls and churches into genuine concert venues.
A demanding yet accessible programme
The strength of the Ceyzérieu Concerts lies in the exceptional quality of its performers: each edition brings together around ten internationally acclaimed virtuoso musicians, laureates of the most prestigious competitions and Révélations des Victoires de la musique classique. The repertoire, eclectic and ambitious, ranges from Bach's baroque to arrangements of Gershwin and Bernstein, through Schubert quintets, Poulenc and Saint-Saëns melodies, Piazzolla tangos and Villa-Lobos works. Each edition also features original commissions created especially for the festival, musical shows for young audiences and a springboard for young talent.
A festival rooted in its territory
Concerts are held in five emblematic venues across the Bugey: the Salle Julien Richard in Ceyzérieu, the Salle Confluence in Artemare, the Salle Phaëton in Culoz, the cathedral of Belley and the church of Flaxieu. This touring format across the Bugey Sud communes allows the festival to reach a wide audience and showcase local architectural heritage.
A commitment to outreach
Beyond concerts, the Musiques en Bugey association conducts music education programmes in local schools through the Class'Orchestre initiative. In 2022, in collaboration with double bassist Léo Genet, it created Basses en Bugey, a double bass academy. The festival is supported by the DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the Ain Department, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the Communauté de Communes Bugey Sud and the communes of Ceyzérieu, Artemare, Culoz-Béon and Belley.
Remarkable growth
Since its first concert in 2017 at the Théâtre de l'Arrosoir on a voluntary contribution basis, the festival has grown steadily. The Musiques en Bugey association was formally established in 2023, structuring an artistic project that has evolved from a single recital to a programme of eight concerts over five days across five different venues. Every edition now sells out, testament to the public's enthusiasm for this musical gathering that has become a fixture in the cultural landscape of Ain.
The Ceyzérieu Concerts — edition 2026
The 9th edition of the Musiques en Bugey - Les Concerts de Ceyzérieu festival will take place from August 7 to 16, 2026, in Bugey Sud (Ain), under the theme «From Intimacy to Musical Sharing». A week of chamber classical music concerts performed by internationally renowned soloists (Edgar Moreau, Aurélien Pascal, Mairéad Hickey…), in the halls and churches of the region. The program opens with a preview on August 7 at the Lochieu rural museum.
9th Edition - August 7 to 16, 2026
The Musiques en Bugey festival returns for its 9th edition from August 7 to 16, 2026. The kickoff is given as a preview on August 7, 2026, at the Lochieu rural museum with a concert titled «The Art of Expressing Love — from Gabriel Fauré to Édith Piaf».
Under the theme «From Intimacy to Musical Sharing», this edition continues the festival's mission: to offer high-level chamber classical music concerts in the halls and churches of Bugey Sud (Le Phaëton in Culoz, Saint-Germain church, Belley cathedral, Ceyzérieu), in a spirit of proximity and exchange between artists and the public.
The edition brings together nine musicians: Mairéad Hickey and Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux (violin), Hortense Fourrier and Adrien Boisseau (viola), Edgar Moreau and Aurélien Pascal (cello), Elad Navon (clarinet), Elia Cohen-Weissert (soprano) and Josquin Otal (piano), the festival's artistic director.
Programme The Ceyzérieu Concerts 2026
Preview
- Fri. August 7 — 7:30 PM · Musée rural de Lochieu: «The Art of Expressing Love», from Gabriel Fauré to Édith Piaf
Festival Week
- Tue. August 11 — 7:30 PM · Le Phaëton, Culoz: works by Felix Mendelssohn
- Wed. August 12 — 10:30 AM · Église Saint-Germain: Edgar Moreau recital (cello)
- Wed. August 12 — 7:30 PM · Le Phaëton, Culoz: «The Cello in the Spotlight» with Edgar Moreau
- Thu. August 13 — 5:00 PM · Ceyzérieu: musical tale based on a text by Jean Giono (young audience)
- Thu. August 13 — 8:00 PM · Ceyzérieu: Aïsar Hernandez Trio (Cuban music)
- Fri. August 14 — 6:30 PM · Cathédrale de Belley: «Meditations» (Messiaen and others)
- Sat. August 15 — 7:30 PM · Le Phaëton, Culoz: Chopin and vocal works
- Sun. August 16 — 7:30 PM · Le Phaëton, Culoz: Johannes Brahms
Highlights The Ceyzérieu Concerts 2026
- 9th edition of the festival in the Bugey Sud
- Theme: 'From Intimacy to Musical Sharing'
- Preview concert on 8 August at the Lochieu museum: La vie en rose, from Piaf to classical
- Detailed programme coming in spring 2026
Prices The Ceyzérieu Concerts 2026
Practical information — The Ceyzérieu Concerts
Practical information
Dates and venues
The Musiques en Bugey festival takes place every August over five days. Concerts are held in five venues across the Bugey Sud: the Salle Julien Richard - La Gavinière in Ceyzérieu (main venue), the Salle Confluence in Artemare, the Salle Phaëton in Culoz-Béon, the cathedral of Belley and the church of Flaxieu. Concerts usually start at 7:30pm, with specific times for young audience shows (5:30pm) and daytime concerts (10:30am).
Getting there
By car: Ceyzérieu is in the Bugey Sud, about 1 hour from Lyon via the A43 then the D1504, and 30 minutes from Chambéry via the A43. Easily accessible from Belley (10 min) and Culoz (5 min).
By train: Culoz-Béon station, a few minutes from Ceyzérieu, is served by TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on the Lyon-Geneva-Chambéry line.
Box office
Tickets available online on Billetweb. Full price: 20 euros per concert. Member rate: 17 euros. 3-concert pass: 40 euros. 4-concert pass: 50 euros. 5-concert pass: 60 euros. Young audience show: 10 euros adult, 8 euros child. Free for under 25s (except musical tales) and for people in financial hardship.
Accessibility
Concert venues are accessible for people with reduced mobility. Provisions are made for visually impaired visitors.
Contact
- Phone: 04 79 87 17 04 / 06 38 28 35 32
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.musiquesenbugey.fr
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Where does it take place — The Ceyzérieu Concerts
Salle Julien Richard - La Gavinière
Salle Julien Richard, Route de Belley, La Gavinière, 01350 Ceyzérieu