“From the beginning I saw the garden as music“

William Christie

The festival Dans les Jardins de William Christie — Musical encounters in the Vendée — grew out of a common desire on the part of the Conseil général de la Vendée and of Mr. Christie himself to create an event that would unite music and gardens, bringing out all the splendor of his creation at Thiré and making it known to a wider pub.

What’s on during the Festival?

Promenades musicales

Each afternoon, the musicians of Les Arts Florissants, interns of the Arts Flo Juniors, winners of Le Jardin des Voix and students from The Juilliard School perform short concerts in various settings in the gardens. Each lasting 15 minutes, the concerts are given simultaneously in the various locations and are repeated several times, so that visitors can go from place to place and concert to concert.

Music workshops

Each afternoon, music workshops offer the festival’s youngest visitors and the grown-ups an unforgettable voyage of discovery into the world of baroque music. (Approx. 40 min)

Guided tours of the gardens

Themed tours are given by guides who are passionate about the gardens. Lasting around one hour, these tours will be available in French and English at the beginning of the afternoon. (Approx. 1h)

Access to the illuminated gardens for a walk by night after the concerts on the reflecting pool.

Concerts on the reflecting pool

William Christie imagined in the heart of his garden a pièce d’eau on which are given the evening concerts during the week-end, and that is used as a natural setting.

Candlelit concerts

Concerts in the intimate setting of the village church in Thiré, lit for the occasion by candles.

New talent concert

Every year, William Christie invites a young musician or a young ensemble to perform during the Festival, giving them carte blanche to put together a program of music to be played at Thiré village church.

Meditations

30 min after the evening concert, each evening of the Festival ends in a moment of serenity in the candlelit village church in Thiré. These short chamber recitals of sacred music are an invitation to silent reflection after the musical riches of the day in William Christie’s gardens. (Approx. 20 min)

General presentation of the Festival

La Pépinière

Shop and café where you can also meet the artists! Among the items avalable are:

• a selection of Arts Florissants books, CDs and DVDs, with a particular slant towards the program of the 2014 festival;

• scores from the collection “Les Arts Florissants” (edited by William Christie) published by Editions des Abbesses.

• a selection of books including novels, children’s books, musicological works, books on fine art and gardens

• postcards and souvenirs of your visit to William Christie’s gardens: pencils, cotton bags, gardening aprons, a plan of the gardens

• Festival rugs and blankets for your comfort during the cool of an August night by the water!