Welcome

Le Chœur de l’Académie du Festival Jean Langlais in front of Langlais’ birthplace, La Fontenelle, July 2011.

The Association “Les Amis de Jean Langlais” was created in la Fontenelle, Ile-et-Vilaine, birthplace of the composer Jean Langlais in December 2005 to promote the memory and music of Jean Langlais and to develop musical culture in the area, particularly among young people.  Since then, the Association has organised seven international festivals, normally in the last fortnight of July but also at other times of year.  Our concerts take place in la Fontenelle and in the surrounding area, includingSaint Leonard’s Church Fougères, the Eglise de Sainte-Croix in Saint Servan St Malo, the church at la Bouëxière, the church of Notre-Dame at Pontorson, the Cathedral of Dol-de-Bretagne and the Abbaye aux Hommes inCaen. Choirs from the UK (the Wingrave Singers, the men of the choir of Royal Holloway, Universtity of London, the girls of All Saints Church Northampton and the choir of St Mary’s Church Warwick), from Spain (Camerata Coral de Santander) and from Denmark (Audite and Pandora) have participated over the years, as have the local French choir the Chorale “Les Amis de Jean Langlais”.  International organists have also taken part : Marie-Louise Langlais, widow of the composer, Marie-Claire Alain, Sylvie Mallet, Malcolm Archer, David Bednall, Katherine Dienes-Williams, Rupert Gough, Colin Spinks, Richard Pinel and Frantisek Vanicek.

This year’s festival will take place in la Fontenelle and the surrounding area  from 18^th to 30^th July, 2012, and we are delighted that Claude Langlais, son of the composer, will be giving a concert this year.

2012 will be the eighth Langlais Festival.

Brenda Dean
La Fontenelle