Septembre Musical de l'Orne
Classical and eclectic music festival in the Orne region
About Septembre Musical
Septembre Musical de l'Orne: Over 40 Years of Musical Excellence
Founded in 1982, the Septembre Musical de l'Orne has established itself as one of the most prestigious music festivals in Normandy. Every year in September, for nearly a month, about twenty concerts take place in the most beautiful heritage sites of the Orne department: churches, abbeys, castles, and concert halls become the settings for an exceptional musical program.
An International-Level Program
The festival is distinguished by the exceptional quality of its programming, welcoming internationally renowned artists. The 2025 edition notably featured countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, pianist Jean-François Zygel, and the legendary jazz organist Rhoda Scott. The program covers a wide repertoire, from baroque music to contemporary creations, including jazz, Corsican polyphony, and world music.
Concerts in Exceptional Venues
One of the unique features of Septembre Musical is its presence in remarkable heritage sites throughout the Orne department. Concerts are held in Romanesque churches, Gothic abbeys, castles, and historic halls, offering often exceptional acoustics and a unique architectural setting that enhances the musical experience.
A Traveling Festival in the Heart of Orne
Unlike many festivals concentrated in a single location, Septembre Musical reaches throughout the entire department, offering concerts in numerous towns. From Alençon to Sées, from Mortagne-au-Perche to Domfront, the festival invites music lovers to discover the rich heritage of Orne while enjoying high-quality concerts.
Accessibility and Pricing
The Septembre Musical de l'Orne offers advantageous subscription packages, including the "Passion" card, which provides discounts for purchasing three or more different concerts. This pricing policy aims to make classical music and the performing arts accessible to the widest possible audience, in line with the festival's mission to democratize access to musical culture in rural areas.
An Unmissable Cultural Event
Over the years, Septembre Musical de l'Orne has become a major cultural event attracting music lovers from all over Normandy and beyond. The festival contributes to the cultural influence of the department and actively participates in the region's artistic life, in collaboration with local cultural stakeholders and national musical institutions.
Septembre Musical — edition 2026
The 44th edition of the Septembre Musical de l'Orne takes place from September 4 to 27, 2026, with about twenty classical and eclectic music concerts held in remarkable heritage sites in the Orne department (churches, basilicas, cathedrals, performance halls). On the program: baroque music, chamber music, choral singing, opera, gypsy jazz, and Gregorian chant, performed by renowned ensembles and soloists (Le Poème Harmonique, Ensemble Correspondances, Quatuor Hermès, Anne Queffélec, Henri Demarquette, Régis Pasquier, Claire Désert, Académie Musicale Philippe Jaroussky…). Ticket sales open on June 14, 2026.
Programme Septembre Musical 2026
Friday, September 4, 2026
- 19h30 — Sacred Lights of Baroque Italy · Le Poème Harmonique, cond. Vincent Dumestre, with Eva Zaïcik and Anthéa Pichanick · Basilique Notre-Dame, Alençon
Saturday, September 5, 2026
- 16h00 — Slavic Music · Quatuor Hermès (Haydn, Prokofiev, Smetana) · Église Saint-Germain, Coulonges-sur-Sarthe
- 20h00 — Enchanted Gardens · Belle Époque melodies (Satie, Schmitt, Ravel « Ma Mère l'Oye ») · Église Saint-Martin, L'Aigle
Sunday, September 6, 2026
- 16h00 — Crossed Glances at the Piano · Anne Queffélec and Gaspard Dehaene · Église Notre-Dame, Écouché-les-Vallées
Friday, September 11, 2026
- 20h00 — 120th Anniversary of the Schola de l'Orne · choral music (Ola Gjeilo « Sunrise Mass », James Whitbourn « Son of God Mass ») · Église Saint-Sauveur, Bellême
Saturday, September 12, 2026
- 16h00 — The Guitar on a Journey · Philippe Mouratoglou, guitar · Église Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-la-Rivière (Gouffern-en-Auge)
- 20h00 — A Palace in Rome · Ensemble Correspondances, cond. Sébastien Daucé · Cathédrale Notre-Dame, Sées
Sunday, September 13, 2026
- 16h00 — Saga of Peoples Without Armor · Chœur Mikrokosmos · Le Forum, Flers
Thursday, September 17, 2026
- 20h00 — Opera Arias for Wind Quintet · wind quintet of the Opéra Orchestre Normandie Rouen · Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, Le Theil-sur-Huisne (Val-au-Perche)
Friday, September 18, 2026
- 20h00 — Prima Vox – Voices of the Middle Ages · Ensemble De Caelis · Église Saint-Pierre, Bazoches-au-Houlme
Saturday, September 19, 2026
- 16h00 — Dance Preludes · Florent Héau (clarinet) and Théo Ould (accordion) · Église Saint-Ouen, Saint-Ouen-le-Brisoult
- 20h00 — Romances for Cello and Piano · Henri Demarquette (cello) and Alexandra Matvievskaya (piano) · Église Saint-Pierre, Mortrée
Sunday, September 20, 2026
- 16h00 — Songs of the Mediterranean · Ensemble Sequenza 9.3, cond. Catherine Simonpietri · Église Saint-Front, Domfront-en-Poiraie
Friday, September 25, 2026
- 20h00 — La Bohème, the opera · Diva Opera · Le Quai des Arts, Argentan
Saturday, September 26, 2026
- 16h00 — Young Talents, Great Emotions · Académie Musicale Philippe Jaroussky · Église Saint-André, Échauffour
- 20h00 — Great Virtuosos in Dialogue · Régis Pasquier (violin) and Claire Désert (piano) · Le Carré du Perche, Mortagne-au-Perche
Sunday, September 27, 2026
- 10h00 — Gregorian Chant · Chœur des moniales bénédictines d'Argentan · free access
- 17h00 — Gypsy Jazz · Angelo Debarre Trio · Centre d'animation, Bagnoles-de-l'Orne-Normandie
Prices Septembre Musical 2026
Practical information — Septembre Musical
Access
By Car: Concerts take place in various towns in the Orne region. Alençon, the main town of the festival, is accessible via the A28 from Rouen or Le Mans, and via the N12 from Paris (2.5 hours). Free parking is available near the concert venues.
By Train: Alençon is served by the Paris-Granville line (Alençon SNCF station). TER regional trains also connect Alençon to the main cities of Normandy.
Ticketing
Tickets are available on the official website www.septembre-musical.com and at partner tourist offices. The "Passion" card offers a discount for purchasing 3 or more concerts.
Practical Information
Concerts generally start at 8:30 PM. It is advisable to arrive at least 30 minutes before the concert begins. As concert venues vary from one evening to another, consult the detailed program for precise addresses and access information.
Contact: Festival Septembre Musical de l'Orne – Website: www.septembre-musical.com
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Septembre Musical
Divers lieux patrimoniaux de l'Orne
54 rue Saint-Blaise, BP 294, 61008 Alençon CEDEX, 61000 Alençon