Sacrée Musique

Sacrée Musique: The Magic of Candlelit Concerts

Founded in 2021, the Sacrée Musique festival was born from a simple yet powerful idea: to bring together sacred architectural heritage and sacred music in an intimate and magical atmosphere, thanks to full candlelight illumination. Sponsored by Stéphane Bern, a prominent figure in heritage preservation in France, the festival quickly gained a large audience, captivated by the beauty of the venues, the quality of the performers, and the unique emotion of candlelit concerts.

Organized by the company Sacrée Musique SAS, the festival began in the provinces before expanding to Paris and Île-de-France starting in December 2025, marking a major step in its development. The concept is based on a fundamental principle: each concert is designed as a holistic experience combining the beauty of the place, the warmth of the candles, and musical excellence, in a spirit of sharing and contemplation accessible to all, whether religious or not.

Parisian Churches as Settings for Sacred Music

For its first Parisian season, the Sacrée Musique festival featured iconic heritage churches in Paris and the Île-de-France region:

• L'Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs (Paris 6th), a magnificent 19th-century church in the heart of Montparnasse
• L'Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Paris 6th), the oldest church in Paris, a jewel of Romanesque and Gothic art
• The Basilica-Cathedral of Saint-Denis, a royal necropolis and a masterpiece of Gothic art

These historic places of worship offer exceptional acoustics that enhance musical performances. Lit exclusively by candlelight, they reveal an often unsuspected architectural beauty, creating a timeless, suspended atmosphere.

An Eclectic and High-Quality Program

The Sacrée Musique festival's program embraces the full diversity of the sacred and spiritual repertoire:

• Classical Choirs: the Chœur de l'Armée française, the official choir of the Republic, performing major works from the sacred choral repertoire
• Corsican Polyphony: the Chœur de Sartène, an emblematic ensemble carrying the polyphonic tradition of the Island of Beauty
• Gospel: vibrant gospel choirs that bring contagious energy to medieval naves
• World Chants: Lebanese chants, traditional sacred music from various cultures
• Children's Choirs: pure voices that touch the sublime within the acoustics of the churches

A Flourishing Festival

Since its creation, Sacrée Musique has continuously grown, establishing itself in emblematic cities such as Lyon, Monaco, Fréjus, and now Paris. The festival caters to a broad audience — classical music lovers, heritage enthusiasts, families, tourists — and offers affordable prices to encourage the discovery of this repertoire, which is less known to the general public.