Rencontres Musicales de Jaugette

A festival born from Irina Kataeva-Aimard's passion

The Rencontres Musicales de Jaugette were born in 2012 from the initiative of pianist Irina Kataeva-Aimard and her association "Jaugette – Manoir des Arts". Based at the Manoir de Jaugette in Obterre, in the Indre department, this Russian-born pianist had the bold idea of bringing great chamber music to the heart of the Berry countryside, in a rural area within the Parc naturel régional de la Brenne, one of France's largest protected natural spaces.

Le Manoir des Arts: a musical setting in the heart of nature

The heart of the festival beats in a magnificently restored former barn, transformed into a 130-seat concert hall. The exceptional acoustics of this space, the result of a renovation designed for music, allow for rare listening quality in an intimate and warm setting. The Manoir des Arts de Jaugette, with its park and outbuildings, offers a bucolic setting where music resonates in harmony with the surrounding nature – the ponds, meadows, and forests of the Brenne.

Three days of demanding chamber music

Every summer, during the second extended weekend in July, the Rencontres Musicales de Jaugette offer three intensive days of chamber music concerts. The program, designed by Irina Kataeva-Aimard, brings together internationally renowned artists – pianists, violinists, cellists, singers – around a demanding and eclectic program ranging from baroque to contemporary. Each edition explores a theme or a common thread that gives artistic coherence to all the concerts.

A place for encounters and transmission

True to their name, the Rencontres Musicales de Jaugette are a place for authentic encounters between renowned artists and music lovers. The friendly atmosphere of the manor, the exchanges after the concerts, the moments shared over a drink in the park create a rare closeness between musicians and spectators. The festival also organizes activities for children and young people, combining games and music in a fun and educational spirit.

A reach from the Brenne

For thirteen years, the Rencontres Musicales de Jaugette have attracted hundreds of music lovers from all over France each year to experience exceptional musical moments in a preserved natural setting. The festival benefits from the support of the Parc naturel régional de la Brenne, the department of Indre, and the Centre-Val de Loire region. It is part of a network of cultural initiatives that contribute to the attractiveness and vitality of the Brenne territory.