International classical music stars at the Chéronne festival in La Ferté-Bernard

Since its creation in July 2011 by Raphael Sikorskirenowned vocal coach, the Chéronne Festival has established itself as an unmissable event in the Sarthe musical landscape. Every year, real big names come from the four corners of the world to perform during this lyrical singing festival and chamber music.
For this fifteenth edition, from July 17 to 26, 2026, the event will take place as usual in three emblematic locations: the church of Saint-Denis-des-Coudrais (Sarthe), the church of Avezé, as well as the Halles Denis-Béalet de La Ferté-Bernard.
It is also in the Little Venice of the West that the festivities will begin on Friday July 17, a first.

Concerts of international stars for only €18

“ It is not certain that our fellow citizens measure the quality of the artists present who come to meet us. You have to be at least a little curious to discover internationally renowned artists,” regrets Didier Reveau, mayor of La Ferté-Bernard. Because the quality is there.

For this anniversary edition, leading flautist, guitarist and pianists take turns alongside lyrical singers in training.

Flutist Jean Ferrandis, guitarist Bruno Pancek, pianists Paul Montag, Qiaochu Li, Damien Lehman, Corine Durous and Nino Pavlenichvili join the festival, regulars or newcomers.

The soprano Gaëlle Méchalyhosted for the first time, will offer a voice and guitar recital entirely dedicated to Schubert in duet with Bruno Pancek.

For only €18, you can discover artists who are famous in Paris and for whom you have to pay €80. We must keep culture accessible. Artistic quality is not reserved for an elite.

An argument that bears fruit… every year, the public comes from a little further away. “We have more and more visitors to Le Mans,” says the vocal coach. The reputation of the festival now extends well beyond the borders of the Fertois region.

Two restitution concerts of the academy’s training courses

On the show side, the Swinging Poules – Florence Andrieu, Caroline Montier and Flannan Obé – take the stage on Thursday July 23 for “ Plutôt crever ! ”, a program mixing swing, jazz and French song from the 1960s.

The Summer Academy will punctuate the festival with two meetings with young opera singers: opening concert on July 17 and closing concert “All at the Opera!” on July 26, preceded by a public masterclass.

Raphaël Sikorski note similarly two restitution concerts of the work of the trainees in training, present for a week before the launch of the festival.

The first, with the students of Bruno Pancek’s guitar class academy, Saturday July 18in La Ferté-Bernard. And the second, with the students of the academy of the flute and piano accompaniment class, of Jean Ferrandis and Paul Montag, Saturday July 25, also at La Ferté-Bernard.

Visitors like to discover the work carried out during the courses. The public understands that opera is not that simple.

More advanced communication

This year, la communication has been greatly strengthened…: social networks, large format posters, banners, flyers at partner points, presence in local media…

And big news, an announcement of the festival will be screened before each session at the Cinema Le Palace from La Ferté-Bernard until the end of the festival. A way to reach more and more people, and why not attract a new audience.

Whether you are a seasoned music lover or simply curious, the Festival de la Chéronne offers, over two long weekends, a rare opportunity: that of hearing great artists a few kilometers from home, for a very reasonable price.

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