1) An innovative theme is proposed every year
2) The length of each concert is only 45 minutes: audience can catch several concerts if they wish and experience a variety of concerts all day from morning to evening
3) Concerts by top Japanese and visiting artists are offered at low prices
4) A variety of free events are proposed
5) From families with babies to ardent music lovers, listeners from all kinds of backgrounds can enjoy live performances in a relaxed setting
6) A great festivity that fills the city with music

Artistic Director René Martin

The program of La Folle Journée 2018 will cover various masterpieces which are the results of stimulating meetings between open-minded musicians and a new world culture. Throughout classical music history, composers have bade farewell to their native lands to move to new countries. Many composers of the 20th century especially, for example, were forced to flee their beloved homes for political reasons. On the other hand, several curious composers of the Baroque era moved to a new and foreign environment in a voluntary manner. In any case, I think every piece created by a composer in a place far away from his “roots” is meaningful and touches our heart because it can evoke, alongside a nostalgia, a desire for discovering new worlds and new hope. I hope you will all enjoy the inspirational musical dramas resulting from the destinies of composers faced with the stream of history.