The Festival since 2007
In 2007, Bernard Foccroulle became the director of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence after running the Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels for fifteen years. He understands the Festival d'Aix all the more since the two institutions have forged co-production links, such as for the production of Julie by Philippe Boesmans in 2005. An organist and composer, Bernard Foccroulle is naturally attached to the baroque repertoire as well as modern productions, and above all determined to continue his approach, which is to transform the opera house into a lively urban meeting place. Chairman of the international organisation Opera Europa, he is convinced that the operatic art, due to its very nature combining many different skills, is a melting pot for tomorrow's creations and an exceptional place for dialogue. Under his leadership, the Festival is becoming an intense time for sharing and reflexion where audiences of all ages and backgrounds come together along with creators and thinkers from worlds or cultures other than those directly involved with opera. Free events, conferences, exhibitions and educational courses take place around the shows and concerts every year, while the activities of the European Academy of Music see themselves strengthened through the production of an annual show intended to tour.
The Festival d'Aix-en-Provence is entering a new period in its history, and in 2008 celebrates its sixtieth anniversary.
