Piano en Valois
One of Europe's largest piano festivals, every autumn in Charente
2026
About Piano en Valois
Piano en Valois — edition 2026
The 33rd edition of Piano en Valois runs from October 2 to 17, 2026, with a special closing concert on November 18, held in Angoulême and across the Charente region. Nineteen concerts will feature classical piano, jazz, and world music at the Théâtre d'Angoulême and various venues, churches, and châteaux throughout the department—including La Couronne, Soyaux, La Rochefoucauld, Fléac, Cognac, Ruffec, Saint-Michel, Vars, and L'Isle-d'Espagnac. Headliners include David Fray, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Anastasia Rizikov, and Vittorio Forte. A free public masterclass with Hortense Cartier-Bresson will also be held on October 10.
33rd Edition of Piano en Valois
The 33rd edition of Piano en Valois takes place from October 2 to 17, 2026, followed by a closing concert on November 18 featuring pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja at the Théâtre d'Angoulême. The program consists of nineteen events, ranging from classical recitals to jazz and world music.
A Journey Across the Charente
In addition to the main venue, the Théâtre d'Angoulême, concerts will be held in historic sites and local halls throughout the area: Saint-Paul Church and Sacré-Cœur Church in Angoulême, the Grands Salons of the Charente Prefecture, La Tréfilerie in La Couronne, Espace Soëlys in Soyaux, Les Carmes in La Rochefoucauld, the Château de Fléac, La Canopée in Ruffec, the Salle Meukow and L'Avant-Scène in Cognac, the Saint-Michel community hall, the Vars village hall, and Espace Georges Brassens in L'Isle-d'Espagnac.
Headliners and Young Talents
David Fray presents a program titled "Around the Transcription: from Bach to Wagner" on October 8, Anastasia Rizikov opens the festival on October 3, and Vittorio Forte performs a matinee for Angoulême seniors on October 7. The 2026 Prix Villevert is awarded to pianist Salomé Jordania, who performs on October 15 in Cognac. The festival also features a symphonic concert with the Orchestre de chambre Nouvelle-Aquitaine, conducted by Raphaël Merlin, alongside pianist Simon Bürki on October 13 in Ruffec.
Jazz, Cinema, and Transmission
The jazz component kicks off with an opening jam session led by Vincent Bidal on October 2, followed by the Francesca Tandoi Trio on October 9. A concert titled "The Most Beautiful Cinema Melodies" brings together Vincent Bidal and Julie Sevilla Fraysse on October 11. The festival also emphasizes musical transmission, with a free public masterclass by Hortense Cartier-Bresson at the Conservatoire Gabriel Fauré on October 10.
Highlights Piano en Valois 2026
- Opening with Anastasia Rizikov, October 3 at Saint-Paul Church, Angoulême
- David Fray, "Around the Transcription: from Bach to Wagner," October 8 at the Théâtre d'Angoulême
- Symphonic concert with the Orchestre de chambre Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Simon Bürki, October 13 in Ruffec
- Free public masterclass with Hortense Cartier-Bresson, October 10 at the Conservatoire Gabriel Fauré
- Salomé Jordania, Prix Villevert 2026, October 15 in Cognac
- Closing concert with Elisabeth Leonskaja, November 18 at the Théâtre d'Angoulême
Programme Piano en Valois 2026
Friday, October 2, 2026
- 7:30 PM — Vincent Bidal & jam session · Rives de Charente, Angoulême — jazz standards and open stage for local musicians
Saturday, October 3, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Anastasia Rizikov · Saint-Paul Church (Ma Campagne), Angoulême — Bach: Partita No. 2 in C minor BWV 826; Schubert/Liszt: Gretchen am Spinnrade, Der Müller und der Bach, Erlkönig; Silvestrov/Rizikov: Adieu, ô Monde, adieu, ô Terre; Mahler/Rizikov: Adagietto from Symphony No. 5; Say: Black Earth; Skoryk/Rizikov: Carpathian Rhapsody
Sunday, October 4, 2026
- 5:00 PM — Martin Jaspard and conservatory professors (Joseph Martin, oboe; Didier Nicolle, flute; Franck Leblois, bassoon) · La Tréfilerie, La Couronne — chamber music
Monday, October 5, 2026
- 8:00 PM — William Winterstin · Espace Soëlys, Soyaux — Schubert: Sonata in A major D664; Schubert/Liszt: Der Doppelgänger; Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5; Chopin: Sonata No. 2 op. 35
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Albert Cano Smit, "From Counterpoint to Dream" · Les Carmes, La Rochefoucauld — Bach: Toccata BWV912 in D major, Sinfonia BWV798, Duet BWV803, Italian Concerto BWV971, Ricercar a 6 from The Musical Offering BWV1079; Fauré: Nocturne op. 63, Impromptu op. 31, Nocturne op. 119, Romance sans paroles No. 3 op. 17, Valse-caprice in D-flat major op. 38
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Vittorio Forte (concert for Angoulême seniors) · Théâtre d'Angoulême, scène nationale — Scarlatti: 3 sonatas (K.466, K.56, K.27); Chopin: Mazurkas op. 41 No. 4 and op. 30 No. 4; Liszt: Rhapsodies No. 8 and No. 12; Guastavino: Las Niñas; Villa-Lobos: Ciclo Brasileiro, Impressões Seresteiras; Lecuona: 3 Danzas afro-cubanas; Piazzolla: Adios Nonino (Tango Rhapsody); Gardel: Volver (piano transcription)
- 8:00 PM — Moe Hosokawa · Château de Fléac, Fléac — Schumann: Kinderszenen op. 15; Debussy: Préludes, Book I (excerpts: Voiles, Le vent dans la plaine, Les collines d'Anacapri, Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest, La cathédrale engloutie); Schubert: "Wanderer" Fantasy in C major D. 760
Thursday, October 8, 2026
- 8:30 PM — David Fray, "Around the Transcription: from Bach to Wagner" · Théâtre d'Angoulême, scène nationale — Bach/Kempff: Sicilienne BWV1031, Overture Cantata BWV29; Royer: L'Aimable, Vertigo; Scarlatti: 2 sonatas (K87, K1); Couperin: Les Barricades mystérieuses; Rameau: Le Rappel des oiseaux; Bach/Stradal: Organ Sonata BWV528 (Andante); Bach/Monsaingeon: Violin Sonata in A minor BWV1003 (Andante); Bach/Siloti: Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3; Wagner/Bülow: Tristan und Isolde, Prelude; Wagner/Liszt: Tristan und Isolde, Liebestod
Friday, October 9, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Francesca Tandoi Trio (Francesca Tandoi, piano; Stefano Senni, double bass; Pasquale Fiore, drums) · Théâtre d'Angoulême, scène nationale — jazz
Saturday, October 10, 2026
- 9:00 AM–1:00 PM — Public masterclass with Hortense Cartier-Bresson · Conservatoire Gabriel Fauré, Angoulême — free admission
- 8:00 PM — François-Xavier Poizat · Salle Meukow, Cognac — Keith Jarrett: The Köln Concert (complete transcription)
Sunday, October 11, 2026
- 5:30 PM — Vincent Bidal & Julie Sevilla Fraysse, "The Most Beautiful Cinema Melodies" · Sacré-Cœur Church, Angoulême — Chaplin: Smile; Sarde: La Chanson d'Hélène; Morricone: Gabriel's Oboe, Deborah's Theme; Zimmer: The Battle, Now We Are Free; Rota: A Time for Us, The Godfather theme; Williams: Schindler's List; Legrand: The Windmills of Your Mind; Horner: Rose; Lady Gaga: Shallow; Badelt/Zimmer: He's a Pirate
Monday, October 12, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Louisa Sophia Jefferson · Grands Salons de la Préfecture de Charente, Angoulême — Mozart/Volodos: Turkish March; Rameau: Les Cyclopes; Tchaikovsky: The Seasons op. 37bis, "May: White Nights"; Chopin: Waltz in E minor, Étude op. 10 No. 2, Étude op. 10 No. 12, Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor op. 31; Stravinsky: Petrushka, piano suite, 3rd mvt "The Shrovetide Fair"
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Simon Bürki with the Orchestre de chambre Nouvelle-Aquitaine, conducted by Raphaël Merlin (anniversary concert) · La Canopée, Ruffec — Mozart: Concerto No. 21 K467; Bizet: Symphony in C
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Martina Meola · Salle polyvalente, Saint-Michel — Alkan: Barcarolle op. 65 No. 6, Esprits follets op. 65 No. 2; Chopin: Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante op. 22, Ballade op. 23 No. 1, Scherzo op. 31 No. 2; Liszt: Sonetto 104 del Petrarca S. 161, Après une lecture du Dante (Fantasia quasi sonata)
Thursday, October 15, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Salomé Jordania, "Ecstasies" (Prix Villevert 2026) · L'Avant-Scène, Cognac — Liszt: Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude S. 173/3; Scriabin: Poème satanique op. 36, Sonata No. 9 op. 68 "Black Mass", Prelude and Nocturne for the left hand op. 9; Rachmaninoff: Prelude op. 32 No. 5, Prelude op. 32 No. 12, Étude-tableau op. 39 No. 1, Étude-tableau op. 33 No. 7; Saariaho: Prelude for piano; Strauss/Cziffra: transcription of "The Blue Danube"
Friday, October 16, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Nikita Mndoyants · Salle des fêtes, Vars — Scarlatti: 6 sonatas; Schubert: Impromptu op. 142 No. 3; Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1; Beethoven: Sonata No. 27 op. 90, Sonata No. 21 op. 53 "Waldstein"
Saturday, October 17, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Karla Martinez, "To the Rhythm of the Caribbean" · Espace Georges Brassens, L'Isle-d'Espagnac — Villa-Lobos: Impressões Seresteiras; De Falla: La Cubana, Andaluza; Mompou: Canción y danza No. 6; Guastavino: Sonatina; Lecuona: Suite Andalucía (Córdoba, Gitanerías, Malagueña); Montsalvatge: Habanera (Divertimento No. 2); León: Tumbao; Caluff: Son No. 3; Vitier: Danzón imaginario; Oliva: Danzón guacho; Gavilán: Pájaro carpintero
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Elisabeth Leonskaja (closing concert) · Théâtre d'Angoulême, scène nationale — Beethoven: Fantasy op. 77; Shostakovich: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B minor op. 64; Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor op. 58
Prices Piano en Valois 2026
Practical information — Piano en Valois
Practical information
Location
Théâtre d'Angoulême (main venue) and various cultural venues in Charente: La Couronne, Soyaux, Ruelle-sur-Touvre, Ruffec, Fléac, La Rochefoucauld, L'Isle-d'Espagnac.
Access
- By train: Angoulême station (TGV from Paris in 2h15).
- By car: A10 motorway, Angoulême exit.
Prices
- Tariff B: 24 euros full price, 15 euros reduced price, 11 euros under 18s, 9 euros students
- Tariff C: 29 euros full price, 18 euros reduced price, 14 euros under 18s, 9 euros students
- Tariff D: 36 euros full price, 21 euros reduced price, 16 euros under 18s, 9 euros students
Ticketing
Tickets online at pianoenvalois.fr, at the Angoulême Tourist Office (05 45 95 16 84) and at the Théâtre d'Angoulême (05 45 38 61 61).
Contact
- Official website: www.pianoenvalois.fr
- Tourist Office: 05 45 95 16 84
- Théâtre d'Angoulême: 05 45 38 61 61
A benchmark European festival
Piano en Valois was created in 1994 in Angoulême and quickly established itself as one of the largest piano festivals in Europe. For over thirty years, the festival has offered a balanced and eclectic program, mixing classical piano, jazz, and world music. The greatest legends of classical and jazz piano have contributed to building the reputation of Piano en Valois, and the festival has enabled many young talents to launch their French careers.
Concerts throughout the department
While the Théâtre d'Angoulême is the main venue for the festival, the organizers of Piano en Valois diversify the concert locations throughout the Charente department. Pianists perform in performance halls, churches, castles, and heritage sites in the agglomeration and beyond: La Couronne, Soyaux, Ruelle-sur-Touvre, Ruffec, Fléac, La Rochefoucauld, L'Isle-d'Espagnac... This touring nature makes the festival a true departmental event.
The meeting of tradition and innovation
Piano en Valois is not limited to classical recitals: the festival explores crossings between musical genres and artistic expressions. Jazz concerts, collaborative performances, jam sessions, and meetings between pianists and other musicians enrich the program. The festival also offers special events such as "A Parent / A Child", designed to introduce the youngest to the world of piano.
Where does it take place — Piano en Valois
Piano en Valois in brief
Other festivals near Angoulême
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