The classical music festival in Châtellerault is undergoing a transformation with new artistic leadership. The autumn musical event is now managed by a new artistic duo: Marie Van Rhijn and Cyril Auvity. Based in Châtellerault for seven years, the harpsichordist and lyric tenor singer will work alongside president Catherine Corneau, who took office at the beginning of 2026. As a conductor and specialist in baroque music, Marie Van Rhijn is joining the 49-year-old lyric tenor singer Cyril Auvity to propose a new formula. The duo will have the opportunity to demonstrate this during the six performances of the Châtellerault festival. They defend "artistic rigor, diversity of repertoires, and the discovery of new talents" to colleagues at La Nouvelle République. The festival is organized over six dates. On Sunday, October 4, the event will begin with a recital by Cyril Auvity at 4:00 p.m. in the church of Antran. Seventeenth-century music and songs will be performed by the baroque group Assemblée, with Marie Van Rhijn as the conductor. "A vibrant tribute to blue gold, an invaluable resource," she summarizes for the daily newspaper. "This festival has a history, an identity. We do not want to distort what was done over 35 years. We need to give it a fresh touch, without losing our core business," says president Catherine Corneau. Among the highlights of the event, the performance on November 8 is expected to be a turning point. The duo Aestésis will perform romantic and impressionist music, with a program centered around Debussy's La Mer. Also on November 15, the virtuoso quartet Voce, with Jean-Baptiste Henry on the bandoneon, will present a panorama of tango and Argentine folklore. The last performance will take place on March 18 next year at the new theater in Châtellerault. All practical information about the 36th edition of Automne musical Grand Châtellerault (location, access, prices, hours, etc.) is available on the event's website.