Reviews
France 3, Dominique Langard
Le festival qui a misé dès le départ sur l’exigence, ne se refuse aucune possibilité d’exploration.
“C’est une réunion de musiciens professionnels qui acceptent de passer deux semaines dans cette région de France d’une beauté inouïe”, explique Pippa Pawlik, directeur artistique du festival.
Irish Times – Ten Wonderful Music Holidays
A series of stunning Provençale hilltop towns play host to this wonderful festival that is celebrating its 11th year in 2015. Seillance, the Pays de Fayence and neighbouring towns of the Var host more than 20 concerts of choral and orchestral work, chamber ensembles, recitals, opera and even some jazz.
The atmosphere is informal and incredibly friendly; the music is top-notch.
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/holidays-2015/ten-wonderful-music-holidays-1.2041265
Last Minute Musicians, Adam Bennett 2014
Few festivals and organisations allow for both amateur and professional musicians across a broad selection of countries to rehearse and perform together, especially not in France’s most beautiful village. Musique Cordiale, a 2 week music festival does exactly this.
http://www.lastminutemusicians.com/blog/?p=768
European Festivals Guide 2012, The Arts Desk, Ismene Brown
A fortnight’s fresh, unpretentious and sociable music-making in a village near Nice between student professionals, established names and good amateurs.
Opera Now, Michael White
A sharp, smart Barber of Seville directed by the multi-talented John Savournin….It was spunkily conducted too by the unflappable Mark Austin.
Telegraph, Michael White
How professionals and amateurs find common ground and make sweet music in the south of France
But the lesson of an experience like Musique Cordiale is that there are other things in music-making that count for at least as much as perfection: qualities to do with effort and commitment and communication of a sense that what you’re singing/playing truly matters to you. And on those terms, this B Minor Mass was fabulous.
I heard it twice, in different hill-town churches, played on both occasions to packed audiences that overflowed into the street outside. There was a real sense of occasion: far greater than when you go and hear a comparable concert at the Barbican or Southbank.