To celebrate its 40^th anniversary with audiences of all kinds, the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles is opening its doors to 60 experienced amateur instrumentalists and reviving, for the duration of a project, the spirit of the Concert des Amateurs, a musical society founded in Paris by François-Joseph Gossec in 1769 and later led by the Chevalier de Saint-Georges from 1773. Bringing together professional musicians and experienced amateurs, this orchestra fostered a taste for both new works and the great repertoire, placing the pleasure of playing and sharing music at the heart of its mission.

In 2027, the CMBV will draw on this legacy to offer a contemporary interpretation of its spirit: giving amateur musicians the opportunity to work over several sessions at the heart of an institution dedicated to rediscovering, studying, passing on and performing French music of the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

The project will culminate on the 11^th June 2027 at the Manège de la Grande Écurie at the Palace of Versailles with Voyage au cœur des opéras de Lully, conducted by Fabien Armengaud. The Concert des Amateurs will join singers and instrumentalists from the Studio baroque, the CMBV choir Les Pages & Les Chantres, and students from the Section baroque in Maurepas.

Beyond the orchestra rehearsals, several activities will give participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the repertoire.

Sectional rehearsals will be offered from the outset of the project, with Mira Glodeanu, violinist and professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, leading the strings, and Lucile Tessier, flautist, oboist and bassoonist, professor at the Paris Regional Conservatory (CRR), leading the wind players.

Participants will also have access to a dedicated online resource page covering Lully, the works being studied, sources, performance practices, instruments and the CMBV’s latest research. Sessions will explore research into Lully’s orchestra and operas, as well as Baroque gesture and stage practices. Visits introducing participants to the CMBV’s instrument collection, the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs and the CMBV itself will complete the programme.

• Saturday the 29^th May 2027, 10.30am–6pm – CMBV
  Sectional rehearsals with Mira Glodeanu for the strings and Lucile Tessier for the wind players, followed by orchestra rehearsals
• Sunday the 30^th May 2027, 10.30am–6pm – CMBV
  Orchestra rehearsals and an introduction to the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs and the CMBV
• Saturday the 5^th June 2027, 10.30am–6pm – CMBV
  Full ensemble rehearsals and a session exploring Lully’s orchestra and operas
• Sunday the 6^th June 2027, 10.30am–6pm – CMBV
  Full ensemble rehearsals and a session on Baroque gesture
• Thursday the 10^th June 2027, 6.30pm–9.30pm – CMBV
  Full ensemble rehearsals
• Friday the 11^th June 2027, 2pm–4pm – CMBV
  Full ensemble rehearsals
• Friday the 11^th June 2027, 5pm–9.30pm – Manège de la Grande Écurie, Palace of Versailles
  Final preparations and the concert Voyage au cœur des opéras de Lully
• Saturday the 12^th or Sunday the 13th June 2027 – Versailles
  An additional date may be added, subject to confirmation.

Concert

Voyage au cœur des opéras de Lully
Friday the 11^th June 2027 – 7.30pm 
Manège de la Grande Écurie, Palace of Versailles

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Instruments sought

Recorder, transverse flute, oboe, bassoon, musette, trumpet, percussion, violin, viola, cello and double bass.

The project will be performed on Baroque instruments at a pitch of A = 415 Hz, with Baroque bows and gut strings for the string instruments.

Minimum level required

At least the end of the third cycle at a conservatoire.

Participation

• €120 – Full price
• €80 – Reduced price for students under 26 and recipients of social welfare benefits, upon presentation of proof of eligibility.

Applications

From the 6^th November to the 6^th December 2026

Selection will be based on an application form and a musical recording. Applicants will be informed of the outcome before the end of 2026.