What is La Folle Journée?

La Folle Journée is a classical music festival that started in 1995 in France, in the northwestern port city of Nantes. Just as its name implies, La Folle Journée (literally “The Crazy Day”) can be depended on to offer the most exciting performances and programs of the many classical music festivals held in Europe. A theme revolving around a composer or genre is selected each year. Taking place from morning until night, concerts lasting about 45 minutes are held simultaneously in the 9 halls of the Cité des Congrès convention center. The performers, appearing in 300 performances over 5 days, include the hottest young stars and big names in classical music. Concertgoers can select their favorite works and immerse themselves in classical music all day long.

Admission is also incredibly affordable with ticket prices between 6 and 27 euros (700–3,000 yen). The low prices were the idea of Artistic Director René Martin, whose intention was to make the concerts accessible so that people could enjoy top-rate performances and cultivate new classical music fans to support the music in the future. Sixty percent of the concertgoers are attending their first classical music concert, with many children in the audience as well.

With its unique concept, La Folle Journée has become popular both in France and around the world. It has been held in Lisbon, Portugal, since 2000, in Bilbao, Spain, since 2002, and at the Tokyo International Forum since 2005. The Festival was held in Kanazawa and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2009; in Niigata, Lake Biwa, and Warsaw in 2010; in Tosu in 2011; and in Ekaterinburg of Russia in 2015. All of these festivals were a great success, creating their own sensations in the world of classical music.

How the Festival Got Its Name

When René Martin planned the first festival in 1995 its theme was “Mozart.” The concept was to hold a two-day concert in multiple venues where music was played around the clock, a music festival that was truly festive. He got his inspiration for its name from Beaumarchais’ play “La Folle Journée, ou Le Mariage de Figaro” (“The Mad Day, or The Marriage of Figaro”). Mozart based his opera upon this play, which was published in 1784. It was a revolutionary work that overturned the values of its day and is even said to have lit the fuse for the French Revolution. Its title of “La Folle Journée” was a perfect match for René Martin’s dream of sweeping away the various barriers that keep people away from classical music. The poster for the first La Folle Journée showed a silhouette of Mozart thumbing his nose mockingly. It was an image of Mozart, the iconoclast who defied the conventions of his day.

The Evolving “Classical Music Revolution” in Tokyo

La Folle Journée, the music festival that started out in the French port city of Nantes in 1995, came to Tokyo in 2005 as “La Folle Journée au Japon.” It drew more than one million visitors in 2007, and has attracted a total audience of 6.4 million people as of 2014. It is developing into the world’s biggest music festival.

In 2015, the Festival theme was updated to fit the context of classical music. Based on perennial themes rooted in an array of different cultures, the Festival has become an opportunity for people to come and sense the adventure of classical music and make some discoveries along the way. The key is devising a program beyond specific time period, genre, or geographical region.