The Festival takes place in the oldest circular keep in Provence, defending since the 11th century the medieval castle of Simiane-la-Rotonde. The Romanesque room on the first floor with his high cupola and twelve arches is the only one of his kind and was built to demonstrate the power and refinement of the Agoult-Simiane family. These important patrons of Troubadour traditions were welcoming musicians and poets in their imposing reception room which is endowed with perfect acoustic conditions. Still it keeps being a quite intimate place for concerts and today is perfectly adapted for small instrumental and vocal ensembles. This is one reason why the Festival “Les Riches Heures” is mainly devoted to Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music.

Since 42 years the Festival invites national and international ensembles issued from the most prestigious music conservatories, and promotes musicians and singers graduated from local or regional music schools, like Aix-en-Provence, Nice or Lyon.

The 42° edition 2024 of our festival will have the theme: “MUSIQUES FEMININES PLURIELLES”

Way too many times forgotten or unsung, woman had since several centuries got involved in musical creation, or inspired it.

By choosing this theme, our will is to give women back the place what they deserve and pay tribute to them.

August 3 at 9 p.m

Photo Vincent Arbelet

Musician Ensemble APOTROPAÏK : " Bella  Donna "

Sublime women, deadly flower

Voices and instruments. Music from the 12th to the 15th centuries.

 Clémence Niclas : voice and flute

 Marie-Domitille Murez : gotic harp

 Louise Bouedo-Mallet : bowed fiddle

 Clément Stagnol : medieval lute

August 6 at 9 p.m

Ann Ford - Thomas Gainsborough - Cincinnati Art museum

Musician Ensemble LA RÊVEUSE : " An air of freedom in England of the Enligthment, Ann Ford, Cecilia Davies and the others..."

Voices and instruments. 18th century English music.

 Joséphine Solus : soprano

 Olivier Riehl : traverso

 Florence Bolton : bass viole

 Benjamin Perrot :English guitar and theorbo

* A free conference on the subject, enhanced with musical extracts, will be presented the day before, august 5 at 7.30 p.m, by Florence Bolton in the Rotonde

August 9 at 9 p.m

Photo Pierre Morales

Musician Ensemble THE KAPSBER'GIRLS : " Donne Sacre, Donne Profane "

Voices and instruments. 17th century Italian music .

 Garance Boizot : viole

 Albane Imbs : artistic direction, lute, theobo & baroque guitar

 Alice Dupont-Percier: soprano

 Gabrielle Varbetian : soprano

 Pernelle Marzorati : harp

August 13 at 9 p.m

J.M Deltombe Photography

LUCILE RICHARDOT - JEAN-LUC HO : " Les Magiciennes baroques"

Operas arias by Haendel, Cavalli, Purcell, Lully, Charpentier......

 Lucile Richardot : mezzo - soprano

 Jean-Luc Ho : harpsichord

August 15th at 9 p.m

Attribué à Jean Petitot - Portrait présumé de la Comtesse de La Suze - Louvre

MARC'S MAUILLON musician ensemble : " Je m'abandonne à vous"

17th century French music.

 Marc Mauillon : baritone

 Myriam Rignol : viole

 Angélique Mauillon : triple harp

Useful information

Transportation

Hight speed train (TGV ) Stations in Avignon Station or Aix en provence, Public bus service to Apt, Taxi service to Simiane-la-Rotonde
Nearest Airport Marseille Marignane airport or Avignon Airport ( public bus service between airport and Apt)

Prices tickets

Concert venue : La Rotonde du château de Simiane
Seats are not numbered

Concert prices :

« 5 concerts subscription »

Full price : € 135,00
Members : € 100,00

Excluding subscription

Full price : € 33,00
Members : € 25,00

Ticket for The Simianais : € 10,00 for one concert of your choice
Under 18, students, unemployed : € 10,00
Free for children under 12

Ticketing

Reservations will be made exclusively with the tourism office of Forcalquier Haute-Provence, on site, by correspondance, by telephone, by internet( cash, checks, and credit card).

13 Place du Bourguet - BP 15- 04 301 FORCALQUIER Cedex.

Tel. : +33 4 84 54 95 10 or +33 4 92 75 10 02
Email : bienvenue@haute-provence-tourisme.com
On line ticketing : https://haute-provence-tourisme.com/billetterie
Opening of the « 5 concerts » subscription box office exclusively : May 15, 2024
Opening of the traditional ticket office : June 1, 2024
Opening of the ticket office for simianais : June 1, 2024 on +33 6 30 80 38 28

Opening reservations for the free conference on august 5 : June 1, 2024 on +33 6 30 80 38 28
Château de Simiane la Rotonde : evening ticket office from 8 pm for the concert to follow (payment only by checks or cash).
Mobile line festival information, contact us : +33 6 30 80 38 28