Since almost thirty-five years, we both have been writing this page. And once again - during eight weeks from March 12th to May 12th - all over the Pays de la Loire region and the Orne department, in many towns and places, we care for sharing with you a vast number of diversified concerts, musical and cultural creations and initiatives.
Rather than introducing them as usual, let’s have Francis Marmande revealing his point of view about Europajazz’s “state of mind” in a short extract from an article of Le Monde, May 4th, 2012 :
“Speaking of abundance and consistency, Europajazz festival du Mans is closer to rillettes than molecular cuisine. But from a daring, subtlety, political ambition and innovation point of view, it is the opposite. First known as a festival with a European tone and focused on free music, Europajazz festival proves that any kind of music can be heard, understood, enjoyed by any kind of audience without restrictions : specialized audience, experts, meticulous publics, ordinary passers-by longing for surprise, freshmen from agricultural high-schools, laymen from retirement homes, kids in schools or prisoners in penitentiaries (Le Monde, April 15th – 16th). With its luxurious programming, Europajazz has spread out during thirty-three years a reversed way of teaching. Fulfilled mission. We can recall how the first programming raised aimless arguments ; as usual it was all about the style and the project choice : laboratory versus conservatism, present against past, the project and its shape based on unlimited faith in the audience.”

What can we add or say in better words ?
Except that each of you would find your own happiness in this new 2013 edition ! and to wish you a splendid festival.

Jean-Marie Rivier, president

Armand Meignan, manager

Want to visit Le Mans during the festival ? Click here