The Festival d'Aix-en-Provence is an annual opera and music festival founded in 1948 by Gabriel Dussurget with the support of Countess Lily Pastré. The first edition presented Mozart's Così fan tutte in July in the courtyard of the former archbishop's palace, and Don Giovanni brought the breakthrough a year later. Under Stéphane Lissner the courtyard was completely renovated from 1998 and became the Théâtre de l'Archevêché, the centre of the festival. Other venues include the Grand Théâtre de Provence, opened in 2007, the Théâtre du Jeu de Paume and the courtyard of the Hôtel Maynier d'Oppède. Mozart is performed every year, alongside commissions such as George Benjamin's Written on Skin. In 2025 the festival received the Birgit Nilsson Prize, and Ted Huffman has directed it since 2026.
The Festival d'Aix-en-Provence was founded in 1948 as a Mozart festival and is today considered one of the most important opera festivals in Europe — the performances take place in historic Provençal courtyards.
At a glance
- Type
- Opera house
- Location
- Aix-en-Provence, France
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