Musicalta is a classical musicfestival and a classical music academy, founded in 1996 in Lapoutroie, Alsace by a couple of musicians. Musicalta takes place every year between July 15 and August 15, in Rouffach, Alsace, France. Musicalta also organises concerts out of Alsace such as Maxim Vengerov's recital at Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, on February 23, 2013, and further announces concerts on March 15, 2014 in Paris and April 16, 2014 in Lyon.
History
The first concert is played in 1994 in Lapoutroie, Alsace in the Vosges mountains. At the same time, Francis Duroy gives the first violin lessons. Soon, concerts are also organized in Labaroche and Trois-Epis. In 1995, the Festival organises five concerts thanks to its first budget: 14 000 FR. In 1996, the brand “MUSICALTA” is created. Between 1996 and 2000, the festival hosts renowned artists such as , Gilles Apap, Hervé Billaut, Philippe Bernold… In parallel, the academy grows from 20 to 120 students with more than 15 professors. In 2001, Musicalta moved to the Alsace plain, in the Pays de Rouffach, Vignobles et Châteaux. Musicalta Festival adapts its capacities to welcome spectators and students in a natural and architectural environment on the Wine Road.
8000 spectators in 2012 attended . It currently takes place in towns of Pays de Rouffach, Vignobles et Châteaux. A Festival concert is also given each year in the Dominican monastery of Guebwiller. Musicalta offers numerous free access available in several ways:
More than 40 free concerts, on the territory, from simple recitals to orchestra and choir concerts,
Meetings with artists after each major concert,
Lectures or/and directed promenades by musicologists, physicians, string-instrument maker, ethnologists, etc. around music,
Discovery workshops about music careers: string-instruments makers, bow makers, specialized publishers etc.
The artistic director, , offers a broad program of a repertoire that crosses several centuries of music. In Musicalta, musical works of the 18th century and contemporary creations, today's music and electro acoustic music are played together in concerts. The Festival has hosted P. Leroux, M. Levinas, W. Mottz, S. Giraud, N. Vérin, P. Mefano, J.Y. Park, C. Lauba. Musicalta presents lesser known composers too, as in 2000, the tribute for Charles Koechlin and in 2002, the tribute for Guillaume Lekeu.
The first music academy took place in 1994 around a single violin course. The year after, one chamber music class opened. Then, was officially founded in 1996, welcoming about 20 students. Since 2006, more than 300 to 370 students from all ages and levels and 50 professors come each year from all around the world. French administration approves Musicalta Academy as “centre de vacances” and as “organisme de formation professionnelle”. In addition to the instruments workshops, several activities are proposed to every student. Some are free such as the large string ensemble, physical awakening activities, singing workshops, composition workshops, lectures, etc.. Musicalta Academy also offers complementary workshops such as chamber music, stress and stage fright control training.
