Spokespeople for the event warn of increasing costs and decreasing subsidies.
While the 43 is currently being helde edition of the Early Music Festival in Maguelone, near Montpellier, its organizers decided to speak out to express their concerns about the future of the event, report several local media. At issue: a continued increase in artistic and technical costs (in particular transport costs), and a 20% reduction in the participation of the main public partner. HAS” With effects already anticipated last year, we have arrived today at a moment of truth.”says the president of the association Les Muses en dialogue, Philippe Leclant, atFree Midday. “The question goes far beyond Maguelone: what place does our society still give to a demanding, accessible and vibrant culture in the territories? »
Towards a cultural desert?
To try to keep their heads above water, festival organizers fear having to increase ticket prices, reduce the number of concerts, give up certain artists or even cancel an entire edition. HAS” A cultural desert never sets in suddenly. It begins when festivals gradually give up their ambition, due to lack of means “, regrets Philippe Leclant in comments relayed by Héraut Tribune. The event’s spokespersons nevertheless hope that by sounding the alarm, they will succeed in raising awareness among public and private actors of the difficulties encountered by a number of cultural events.
The last concert of the 2026 edition, dedicated to the resonances between scholarly music and popular traditions, will take place this Friday, June 12 at Maguelone Cathedral. Godfather of the festival, the chef and gambist Jordi Savall will present a program dedicated to the art of variation and improvisation, alongside the guitarist Xavier Díaz-Latorrefrom the harpist Andrew Lawrence-King and the percussionist David Mayoral.
