Music and Markets tours of France

American Music Teacher, June-July, 2003

Music and Markets 2003, presented by Music Etc., will offer two opportunities--July 19-26, 2003, and August 2-9, 2003--to witness the music and experience the countryside and markets of France, and see the 23rd annual La Roque d'Antheron International Piano Festival.

The music festival will offer numerous organ, harpsichord and piano recitals by emerging artists as well as internationally renowned soloists. Last summer, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Prague and the National Orchestra of France performed along with orchestras from Lausanne and Bilbao, with this year's festival to deliver performances of the same quality and diversity.

Providing historical context to the festival's music and its composers will be a professor of twenty-five years at the Music Conservatory in Metz, with the possibility of special backstage meetings with the performers.

The variety of venues also adds interest to the concerts, including Lourmarin's Renaissance chateau, the cloister of the tenth century Abbey of Silvacane, the atmospheric gardens of the former Bishop's palace of Aix, the wooded grounds of the Chateau de Florans and even a picturesque old quarry. The final schedules can be viewed online at www.musicetc.us.

With concerts in the evenings, during the day participants are free to go on guided strolls around some of Provence's villages including Isle-sur-le-Sorgue, St-Remy, Cadenet and Lourmarin.

Local experts will be available for shopping guidance as well at Aix-en-Provence's town-wide outdoor weekly market. And friends who have recently authored a provencal cookbook will be hosting an al fresco post-market lunch ar their hillside villa overlooking Vauvenargue, the town where Picasso is buried.

For more information contact Kirk and Anne Woodyard at Music Etc. at tours@musicetc.us, (877) 260-6383 or visit www.musicetc.us.