Discover Exceptional Organ Music Performances in Fréjus

Free to discover the powerful sound of the organ and its unmatched harmonic richness, resonating Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn in an exceptional way, the three new concerts organized by the association “Les Amis de la cathédrale” promise timeless moments. This Sunday at 4:00 PM, the young prodigy Joffrey Mialon will make the Saint-Léonce Cathedral vibrate.

Artistic director and new president of “Les Amis de la cathédrale,” Emmanuel Arakélian, has invited Joffrey Mialon, giving him carte blanche: “The association does not give in to showy music but seeks to bring a maximum of different personalities to showcase the diversity of sounds to everyone, from the curious to music lovers. We offer three quality concerts, thanks to the City of Fréjus.”

Creating Dialogue Between Modern and Ancient Composers

“We choose both young talents like Joffrey Mialon to encourage new musical careers, as well as international artists like Isabelle Demers coming in May, and duos like the one in June,” explained Emmanuel Arakélian, a professor at the National Conservatory of Marseille and holder of the Great Organ at the Basilica of Saint-Maximin. “Joffrey Mialon has an interesting musical range of our time. He will create a dialogue between modern and ancient composers. He will play Bach and Frescobaldi, which work well on our organ, alongside compositions by two current organists who have previously visited Fréjus, Bernard Foccroulle, and a piece by Benoit Mernier. This music explores the colors of the organ.”

Having trained in Grenoble and Toulouse with Willem Jansen before joining the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Lyon, Joffrey Mialon was awarded the first prize at the international organ competition in Dudelange, Luxembourg. He performs as a chamber musician, accompanist, and soloist, offering diverse repertoires from the Renaissance to contemporary music.

A Canadian Virtuoso

To celebrate the national event “Organ Day” on May 10, organized by the association “Orgue de France,” the “Les Amis de la cathédrale” have planned an exceptional performance with the arrival of Canadian virtuoso Isabelle Demers, coming all the way from Montreal where she teaches at the university.

“Isabelle Demers is a musical phenomenon, a great virtuoso, and a very human and endearing personality. We are very happy that she agreed to come,” said the president. “Finally, on June 14, a duo of musicians will return, after inaugurating our organ in Fréjus following the 2018 renovations, Yves Rechsteiner on the organ and Henri-Charles Caget on percussion. We want to highlight our organ, which is a jewel in the region, visually splendid: the buffet, the sculptures, and the marquetry in trompe-l’oeil of 18 different woods, a remarkable instrument resulting from two years of work by renowned organ builders Pascal Quorin and Jean-Louis Loriaut. We want to democratize it by promoting cultural projects for the public.”

Need for Volunteers

The association invites volunteers to join them to strengthen the team: “Patrice Caron has left, and we could really use reinforcements to welcome artists, distribute programs, provide information to attendees, and handle administrative tasks.” For more information: orguedefrejus@gmail.com