Music – OUS South West France

2019 Sainte-Mere Festival

Our member Piers Killeen writes:

2019 marks a new step forward. Sainte-Mère Festival has supported over 50 talented young musicians and one of the most promising new quartet ensembles in Europe. This year we are also supporting an exceptional young composer. The Festival has been fortunate enough to join the famous Aldeburgh Festival of England and The Philips Collection of Washington, in a co-commission of a new piece for string quartet by Freya Waley-Cohen. The European premiere forms part of this year’s exciting summer programme. The details are now on the website.

With best wishes,

Piers

www.saintemerefestival.net

La Halle aux Grains – a great venue

Last Friday we had the joy of hearing a top orchestra – the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse – at the magnificent Halle aux Grains in Toulouse; with Sibelius and Richard Strauss, two of my favourites, as well. If you haven’t been to an event there, do make an effort to do so = it’s a great venue and the acoustics are surprisingly good for a building which wasn’t purpose built. There’s a designer-type hotel literally next door, Les Bains Douches, on the site of the old Toulouse public baths I believe; it’s a bit bizarre but it has some secure parking and there are plenty of good restaurants close by (and the Irish pub if you like Guinness and boisterous patrons).

http://onct.toulouse.fr/halle-aux-grains
http://www.hotel-bainsdouches.com/

Pip

The Society* was inaugurated in 2007 at the instigation of Jeremy James (Oriel) and has members in most of the departments of South West France. Membership is open to anyone with a connection with the University whether resident in France permanently, with a holiday home or just visiting. We aim to have a number of activities throughout the year ranging from vineyard tours (obviously), visits to places of interest, an annual lunch or dinner and other social events. The aim of the Society is to provide a convivial environment in which people with a common interest can meet socially. Members are drawn from a wide age group and of course from many and varied occupations. We welcome any input and look forward to hearing from you with new ideas or suggestions as to how the Society can develop. Just post your thoughts or comment on an existing post: see the help page for details on how to do this. A list of members names and departments can be sent on request.
* Société de l’Université d’Oxford Association Sud Ouest de La France