Festival D'aix-en-Provence
The Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence is an annual international music festival which takes place each summer in Aix-en-Provence, principally in the month of July. Devoted mainly to opera, it also includes concerts of orchestral, chamber, vocal and solo instrumental music.
The first festival took place in July 1948 and was founded by Countess Lily Pastré. It was made up of three or four concerts in the cour de l'Archevêché, a concert in the Saint-Sauveur cathedral, and six further concerts and recitals in various locations throughout the town.
Performances are given in a variety of locations, including the Théâtre de l'Archevêché, in the courtyard of the former archbishop's palace, the Grand Théâtre de Provence, the Jeu de Paumes (a restored 18th century theatre), the courtyard of the Hôtel Maynier d'Oppède and the Théâtre du Grand Saint-Jean, in the grounds of a chateau near Aix.