Chamber Music Workshop in Aix-en-Provence, France
April 13 -20 and April 20-27, 2025
BOTH WEEKS ARE SOLD OUT!
Rich in historic and architectural heritage, this city of art and thermal springs in the heart of Provence is not to be missed. You will fall in love with Aix for its tree-lined boulevards, ancient fountains, relaxing café scene, and picturesque cobblestone streets. Aix was the inspiration of many great writers and painters – Emile Zola, Marcel Pagnol, Stendhal, Frédéric Mistral, Piccaso, and Paul Cézanne (who was born there in 1839). Cézanne’s beautiful scenery, light, and colors are all around you as you travel amongst the places and landscapes which marked the life and the work of the founder of post-Impressionism. Aix is also well known for its musical heritage – it boasts one of the best conservatoires in France and has a thriving classical music and festival scene.
Provence is a beautiful region filled with lavender fields, charming towns and hilltop villages, Roman ruins, olive groves, and fabulous food and wine. The art, architecture, and history of Aix are among France’s most alluring, with 17th-century mansions lining tree-framed boulevards and city squares decorated with stone fountains.
Provence is a beautiful region filled with lavender fields, charming towns and hilltop villages, Roman ruins, olive groves, and fabulous food and wine. The art, architecture, and history of Aix are among France’s most alluring, with 17th-century mansions lining tree-framed boulevards and city squares decorated with stone fountains.
GREAT MUSIC...
- Individual players are assigned to ensembles that rotate on a daily basis for coaching on Beethoven's String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 127, which must be prepared in advance.
- Pre-formed groups: Come as a trio, quartet, quintet or sextet. Focus on any work(s) of your choosing in coaching sessions
- Workshop takes place at the same time as the renowned Festival de Pâques, a music festival organized by violinist Renaud Capuçon that features some of the best ensembles and soloists from across Europe, with a concert every evening at 8:30 pm during our workshop week!
GREAT WORKSHOP PROGRAM...
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DAILY COACHING BY MEMBERS OF OUR SUPERB FACULTY
Our faculty is comprised of outstanding performing artists who combine concert careers as chamber players with a dedication to teaching. They are passionate about sharing their expertise in an encouraging and supportive manner to help you achieve your individual musical goals. The program also includes a MASTERCLASS focusing on topics to improve your skill level and refine your understanding for playing chamber music.
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VISITS TO THE MUSÉE GRANET AND THE COLLECTION PLANQUE |
Vue du Jas de Bouffan - Paul Cezanne
Paysage, Marine - Nicolas de Staël
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THE MUSÉE GRANET is one of the leading art museums in France. Named after one of its most generous benefactors, the painter François-Marius Granet, the museum owes its origins to the local nobility who cultivated a taste for the arts and history. They assembled remarkable art collections throughout the 17th and 18th centuries to display in their private mansions, making them the pride of the city. The permanent collection includes works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Paul Klee, Fernand Léger, Piet Mondrian, Alberto Giacometti and, of course, Cézanne.
COLLECTION PLANQUE showcases the truly magnificent collection of Jean Planque (1910-1998), a major Swiss collector, and consists of some 300 paintings, drawings and sculptures from the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists (Cézanne, Monet, Van Gogh, Degas) to the major artists of the 20th century such as Bonnard, Picasso, Braque, Léger, de Staël, and Dubuffet. Option to visit the collections on a guided visit or "on your own" |
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WALKING TOUR OF OLD AIX
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This walking tour provides a solid overview of the Old Town, revealing the elegance of its mansions, the beauty of its architecture, and its key historic sights. As the earliest Roman city in France, Aix-en-Provence's history is simultaneously lengthy and fascinating. Nicknamed the ville d’eau, ville d’art (city of water, city of art), Aix was first valued for its water springs and idyllic natural surroundings. The city grew in strategic importance as the capital of Provence, later rising to become a significant judicial and educational center, attracting attention for its Roman history, artistic connections, and thermal springs.
We'll also take a break at a café in the main square to enjoy a key pastime in the culture of Aix! |
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VISIT AND TOUR OF THE L'OCCITANE FACTORY AND ITS BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
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L'Occitane Factory - Mediterranean Garden
L'Occitane factory
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Aromatic bunches of lavender, rosemary, and thyme welcome visitors to the L’Occitane factory in the heart of Provence.
Guided tours of the laboratories, production workshops, and packing lines show how Mediterranean plants are transformed into high-quality organic products that have become sought after across the globe. Sample some of the company’s signature products, which include scented creams, soaps, and perfumes. An on-site boutique features the company’s entire product line. This is a great tour for gardeners, since the factory’s manicured Mediterranean garden is a highlight of visiting. |
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EXCURSION TO TERRE DE MISTRAL VINEYARDS
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Terre de Mistral is the story of how two families who share the same passion for Provence came together, with a strong desire to share and pass on their expertise.
This estate is 15 km away from Aix-en-Provence, with the legendary Sainte-Victoire mountain as a backdrop, and is dedicated to the production of wine and top-quality olive oil. We'll enjoy lunch here, followed by a tour and tasting in the winery. |
Mont Sainte-Victoire and Terre de Mistral vineyards
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ATTEND CONCERTS AT THE FESTIVAL DE PÂQUES MUSIC FESTIVAL
Organized by violinist Renaud Capuçon, the Festival de Pâques features some of the best ensembles and soloists from across Europe, with a concert every evening at 8:30 pm during our workshop week! The festival schedule will be announced on October 9th and you can purchase tickets online to any performances that you would like to attend. (Tickets are NOT included in your workshop registration fee). |
ADDITIONAL PRE- AND POST-WORKSHOP TOURS to the Mediterranean coast at Marseille and Cassis; to Avignon and Les Baux de Provence; to Nimes, Arles and the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct!
If you choose to arrive a few days early or to stay after the workshop week, you can take advantage of small group tours we've designed so that you can enjoy the Provence region to the fullest. These tours are offered at an additional fee, with details available after acceptance to the workshop program.
If you choose to arrive a few days early or to stay after the workshop week, you can take advantage of small group tours we've designed so that you can enjoy the Provence region to the fullest. These tours are offered at an additional fee, with details available after acceptance to the workshop program.
Avignon - Bridge and Palace of the Popes
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Cassis - Calanques along the Mediterranean coastline
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ACTIVITIES FOR NON-PLAYING GUESTS & SPOUSES
While musician participants are engaged in chamber music coaching sessions, non-playing guests and spouses may take advantage of informally organized activities and tours to explore and discover the culture and cuisine of Provence. The cost of these tours and activities is included in the registration fee for guests and spouses.
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FOOD TOUR WITH TASTINGS
Our friends at No Diet Club Food Tours have created a unique walking tour with tastings for us! We'll learn about hidden treasures of local markets, products of the region, and culinary traditions on this walking tour, discovering some of the best food spots in Aix. On the menu: aioli, pastries and confections featuring almonds, lavender ice cream, pan bagnat, zucchini blossoms, and other surprises. Vegetarians are welcome (tastings will vary for special diets). |
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VISIT TO THE VASERELY FOUNDATION
Welcome to the geometric and colorful universe of Victor Vasarely, the Hungarian-born mastermind of the Op Art movement. From his beginnings as a graphic designer to his utopian project of a "polychrome city of happiness," his work is characterized by optical games and abstraction. The building is made up of interlocking, honeycomb-like galleries displaying Vaserely's soaring, kaleidoscopic, and mind-bending geometric art. |
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PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR OF THE HÔTEL DE CAUMONT ART CENTER
The Hôtel de Caumont is one of the most beautiful private mansions in Aix-en-Provence, dating from the 18th century. This townhouse in the Mazarin district is one of the rare urban residences in Aix "between courtyard and garden" which allowed the owners to demonstrate their aristocracy by reminding us of castles in the middle of vast parks and gardens. A visit immerses you in the refined atmosphere of this exceptional place: from the courtyard to the historic salons to the wonderful gardens. We'll also visit the current temporary exhibition (to be announced in October). |
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LEARN HOW CALISSONS ARE MADE WITH A FACTORY TOUR AT LE ROY RENÉ CONFISERIE
Aix has its own sweet confectionary delight called the calisson that is only found in this area. It’s said that it was made for the Queen Jeanne to make her feel better about marrying King René, who was twice her age. Calisson is a confectionery made from a thin paste of almonds and candied melon (or other candied fruits), crushed together, topped with royal icing, and placed on a base of unleavened bread. It has been a specialty of Aix-en-Provence since the 15th century and is recognized as one of the gastronomic emblems of the region. |
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DISCOVER HOW COLORS ARE MADE AT ÔKRA ECOMUSEUM
The Mathieu factory is a former ocher production plant which produced around 1000 tons of ocher per year between 1921 and 1963. Washing systems, the kiln, and mills have been restored to help visitors understand the different stages of ore processing, from extraction to shipping. This tour will introduce you to the history, the use, and the materials of colors from prehistoric times to the present day. You'll also learn about the production of ocher and the use of coloring materials in various applications: buildings, commercial paints, paper-making, and artist materials. |
Please join us in Aix-en-Provence in April for
a memorable week in Provence!
a memorable week in Provence!
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