Opéra de Baugé

Opéra de Baugé: An Exceptional Opera Festival in Anjou

The Opéra de Baugé adventure began in 2002 when John and Bernadette Grimmett, opera enthusiasts, decided to create an opera festival on their Capucins property, a former convent located in Baugé-en-Anjou. Inspired by the famous Glyndebourne festival in England, the concept is original: to offer high-quality operas in an intimate and rural setting, with long intermissions allowing the audience to picnic in the gardens or dine at the restaurant.

A Temporary Theatre in the Gardens of the Capucins

From 2003 to 2011, performances were held outdoors in the gardens of the Capucins. After a few years at the municipal theatre in the town center, the festival returned to the Capucins in 2016 with a temporary theatre specially erected for the season. This temporary venue, set up each summer, offers professional acoustic and stage conditions while preserving the rural and intimate atmosphere that makes the festival charming.

Three Operas and Concerts Every Summer

Each season, Opéra de Baugé presents three operas in original productions, performed by an orchestra of professional musicians and talented young singers selected from the best European music schools. The repertoire covers a wide range, from Mozart to Puccini, including Donizetti, Handel, and Offenbach. In addition to the operas, classical music concerts are scheduled in the historic sites of the commune of Baugé-en-Anjou.

The English Art of Living in Anjou

One of the unique features of Opéra de Baugé is the 90-minute intermission between acts, inherited from the Glyndebourne tradition. The audience is invited to picnic on the lawns of the Capucins gardens or to dine at the adjacent restaurant, creating an atmosphere that is both refined and relaxed. Spectators come dressed elegantly, with picnic baskets filled with fine food and local wines, to enjoy an evening that combines lyrical art and the art of living.

A true cultural gem of Anjou, Opéra de Baugé contributes to the international renown of Baugé-en-Anjou and attracts music lovers from all over France, the United Kingdom, and Europe each summer.