List of classical music festivals explained
The following is an incomplete list of classical music festivals – music festivals focused on classical music. Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western music (both liturgical and secular), and has long been played at festival-like settings. It encompasses a broad span of time from roughly the 11th century to the present day.[1] The major time divisions of classical music are as follows: the early music period, which includes the Medieval (500–1400) and the Renaissance (1400–1600) era, played at early music festivals; the common practice period, which includes the Baroque (1600–1750), Classical (1750–1830), and Romantic eras (1804–1910), which included opera festivals and choral festivals; and the 20th century (1901–2000) which includes the modern (1890–1930) that overlaps from the late 19th-century, the high modern (mid 20th-century), and contemporary classical music festivals or postmodern (1975–2000) eras, the last of which overlaps into the 21st-century. The term "classical music" did not appear until the early 19th century, in an attempt to distinctly canonize the period from Johann Sebastian Bach to Beethoven as a golden age.[2]
Related lists, categories, and media
| List | Category | Media |
|---|
| | Classical music festivals
Classical music festivals by country |
| | Music festivals |
| | Early music festivals |
| | Chamber music festivals |
| | Choral festivals |
| | Indian classical music festivals |
| | Opera festivals |
| | Bach festivals |
| | Christian music festivals |
| | Contemporary classical festivals |
| | Experimental music festivals |
| | Electroacoustic festivals | |
Festivals
Africa
| Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
|---|
| | 1985–present | Held every summer |
| Greyton Genadendal Classics for All[3] | South Africa | 2003–present | Held third weekend in May each year |
| Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival[4] | South Africa | 2003–present | Held in July each year |
| Nosy Be Symphonies – Festival de Musique Classique de l'Océan Indien[5] | Madagascar | 2014–present | Held end of August each year |
| Klein Karoo Klassique[6] | South Africa | 2009–present | Held beginning of August each year | |
Asia
| Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
|---|
| | ?–present | At shrine built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma |
| | 1986–present | Encouraging young talents |
| | 1997–present | Asian classical music |
| | 2000–present | Asian classical music |
| | 2005–present | Asian classical music |
| | 1959–present | Qawaali, classical, pop, rock, hamd, ghazel |
| | 1961–present | Arts festival with classical focus |
| | 1973–present | Classical music, ballet, opera, traditional music |
| | 2002–present | Classical, jazz, pop |
| | 2004–present | And Eklisia summer school |
| | 1985–present | Mixed genres |
| | 1990–present | Performers from major orchestras serve as faculty. |
| | 1992–present | Held in August and September |
| | 1998–present | Founded by the Chinese government |
| Great Wall International Music Academy | | 2005–present | Month-long classical music institute |
| | 2002–present | Large event with multiple genres |
| | 2003–present | Classical competition |
| | 2003–present | Multiple features beyond main opera |
| | 2004–present | Chamber music festival |
| | 2006–present | Beigang Philharmonic Association |
| | 2012–present | South Asian classical music |
|
Europe
| Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
|---|
| (several) | 1888–present | Held in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Norway |
| Austria | 2007–present | |
| Austria | 1995–2006 | |
| Austria | 1920–present | |
| Austria | 1967–present | |
| Austria | 1973–present | |
| Austria | 1956–present | |
| Austria | 1985–present | International festival, held in Graz and Styria |
| Austria | 1992–present | |
| Austria | 2007–present | |
| Azerbaijan | 2009–present | |
| Azerbaijan | 2007–present | |
| Azerbaijan | 2009–present | |
| Belgium | 1950 | |
| Belgium | 2021-present | |
| Belgium | 1994-present | |
| Bulgaria | 1964–present | |
| Bulgaria | –present | |
| Croatia | 1961–present | |
| Czech Republic | –present | |
| Czech Republic | 1976–present | |
| Czech Republic | 1991–2008 | |
| Czech Republic | 1946–present | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | 1784–1912 | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| English Music Festival | England | | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| Investec International Music Festival[7] | England | 2010–present | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | 1895– | |
| England | 1904– | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | 1719– | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| England | | |
| France | 1948–present | |
| France | 1948–present | |
| Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges | France | 2018-present | Held in Guadeloupe |
| France | | |
| France | | |
| France | | |
| France | | |
| France | 2005-present | |
| France | | |
| France | | |
| Germany | 1904–present | Early Bach festival |
| Germany | 1947–present | Bonn |
| Germany | 1876–present | Wagner opera festival |
| Germany | 1994–present | Easter festival |
| Germany | 1845–present | Beethoven festival |
| Germany | 1988–present | |
| Germany | 1978–present | |
| Germany | 1919–present | Devoted to Handel |
| Heidelberger Frühling | Germany | 1997-present | International festival |
| Germany | 1997–present | International festival |
| Germany | 1896–present | International theatre festival |
| Germany | 1986–present | |
| Germany | 1988–present | Piano festival; classical music and jazz; lasts more than three months |
| Germany | 1818–1958 | Early classical festival held on Pentecost |
| Germany | 1962–present | Devoted to the works of Telemann |
| Germany | 1987–present | Concerts take place at a culturally important location. |
| Germany | 1986–present | Summer festival |
| Germany | 1946–present | Summer chamber music festival |
| Ireland | –present | |
| Ireland | –present | |
| Ireland | –present | |
| Ireland | –present | |
| Ireland | 1951–present | |
| Ireland | 1995–present | Bantry |
| Altschuler Summer Music Institute | Italy | 2019–present | |
| Settimane Musicali al Teatro Olimpico di Vicenza[8] | Italy | 1992-present | |
| CIMA Festival | Italy | –present | |
| Bologna Festival[9] | Italy | 1982 –present | |
| Italy | –present | |
| Riga Jurmala Music Festival[10] | Latvia | 2019-present | |
| Norway | –present | |
| Poland | –present | |
| Poland | 2005–present | |
| Oeiras International Piano Festival | Portugal | 2018 -present | Piano summer festival |
| Cistermúsica[11] | Portugal | 1993–present | In Alcobaça |
| | 2014–present | |
| | 2015–present | |
| Romania | –present | |
| Romania | –present | |
| Romania | 2011–present | |
| Romania | –present | |
| Romania | 1965–present | |
| Scotland | 1947–present | |
| Serbia | 1969–present | |
| Slovakia | 1956–present | |
| Spain | 1987–present | |
| Spain | 1978–present | |
| Spain | 2003–present | Devoted to Spanish music |
| Spain | 1993–present | Devoted to early music |
| Spain | 1998–present | Devoted to early music |
| Spain | 1983–present | Devoted to early music |
| Spain | 1997–present | Devoted to early music |
| Spain | 2001–present | Devoted to early music |
| Spain | 1962–present | |
| Spain | 1982–present | |
| Spain | 1992–present | |
| Spain | 1984–present | |
| Spain | 1985–present | |
| Spain | 1952–present | |
| Spain | 1952–present | |
| Spain | 1992–present | |
| Spain | 2000–present | |
| Spain | 1939–present | |
| Spain | 1962–present | Devoted to sacred music |
| Switzerland | 1957–present | |
| Switzerland | 1938–present | |
| Switzerland | 1974–present | |
| Switzerland | 2004–present | |
| Switzerland | 1956–present | |
| Netherlands | 1982–present | |
| Netherlands | 1947–present | |
| Turkey | –present | |
| Turkey | –present | |
| Turkey | –present | |
| Ukraine | –present | |
| Ukraine | 2017-present | |
| Wales | 1972–present | | |
North America
| Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
|---|
| Canada | | Multiple genres |
| Canada | 2011–present | Bach festival |
| Canada | –present | |
| Canada | –present | |
| Canada | –present | |
| Canada | –present | |
| Canada | –present | |
| | –present | |
| Canada | –present | |
| | –present | |
| | –present | |
| | –present | |
| | –present | |
| Canada | –present | |
| | –present | |
| Canada | –present | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| ASME@WAU Music Festival [12] | | -present | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| Festival Mozaic, San Luis Obispo[13] | United States, California | 1971–present | Multiple genres |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| Fine Arts Summer Academy (FASA)[14] | United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| Mineral Point Chamber Music Festival[15] | United States | 2017–present | This annual June festival features advanced university-level ensembles |
| United States | | |
| Mostly Modern Festival[16] | United States | 2018– | The focus of the festival is "mostly modern": music by living composers from around the world, with occasional works from the standard repertoire. |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| Music from Angel Fire[17] | United States | 1984–present | Music from Angel Fire celebrates extraordinary chamber music in the Northern New Mexico communities of Angel Fire, Taos, Raton and Las Vegas. |
| Music House International[18] | United States | 1997–present | Study with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra |
| Music in the Mountains | United States, Colorado | | |
| Music Mountain | United States | 1930–present | June through September annually; devoted to the string quartet and other chamber music; Twilight series of jazz, swing, etc. Education programs, master classes, etc. |
| National Music Festival[19] | United States, Chestertown, Maryland | 2010–present | First two weeks of June annually |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| Northern Lights Music Festival[20] | United States | 2003–present | The Northern Lights Music Festival is a three week classical music performance program and music school which is held each summer on the Minnesota Iron Range. |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| Omnipresent Music Festival[21] | United States | 2021–present | Omnipresent Music Festival - BIPOC Musicians Festival. This is a music festival that showcases the historical significance of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) professional musicians and composers while entertaining communities and inspiring youth with musical performances that span all genres of music. |
| United States | | |
| United States | 1993-present | Focus on contemporary classical and experimental music |
| United States | | |
| Philadelphia International Music Camp & Festival[22] | United States | 1997–present | Study with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| United States | | |
| | –present | |
| United States | –present | |
| | –present | |
| United States | –present | |
| Barbados | 2014–present | Held yearly in December |
| Puerto Rico | | | |
Oceania
| Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
|---|
| Australia | 1950–present | Choral festival |
| Australia | 1986–present | Held for 17 days each October |
| Australia | 1994–present | Held at the end of April annually |
| New Zealand | 2008–present | Guitar focus | |
South America
| Festival name | Location | Years | Notes |
|---|
| Argentina | 1993–present | Held yearly in October |
| Argentina | 1960–present | Arts festival |
| Brazil | 2015–present | Chamber music festival |
| Brazil | 1997–present | Opera festival |
| Brazil | 2017–present | Reinassance music festival for 3 days |
| Brazil | 1986–present | Classical Christmas concert |
| Chile | 1968–present | Between January and February, 10 days |
| Colombia | 1973–present | Cultural and arts festival with classical music |
| Peru | 1996–present | International vocalists |
| International Music Festival Alfredo de Saint Malo | Panama | 2006–present | Platform for musical and cultural exchange | |
Notes and References
- "Classical", The Oxford Concise Dictionary of Music, ed. Michael Kennedy, (Oxford, 2007), Oxford Reference Online. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
- [Julian Rushton|Rushton, Julian]
- http://www.classicsforall.co.za Greyton Genadendal Classics for All
- http://www.sicmf.co.za Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival
- http://www.nosybe-symphonies.com Nosy Be Symphonies
- http://www.klassique.co.za Klein Karoo Klassique
- https://iimf.co.uk Investec International Music Festival
- https://www.settimanemusicali.eu/ Settimane Musicali al Teatro Olimpico di Vicenza
- https://www.bolognafestival.it/ Bologna Festival
- https://riga-jurmala.com/ Riga Jurmala Music Festival
- http://www.cistermusica.com/ Cistermúsica - Festival de Música de Alcobaça
- https://festival.asofme.org/ ASME@WAU Music Festival
- http://www.festivalmozaic.com/ Festival Mozaic
- http://www.fineartssummeracademy.com/ Fine Arts Summer Academy (FASA)
- http://www.artsmp.org/ Mineral Point Chamber Music Festival
- https://mostlymodernfestival.org/ Mostly Modern Festival
- http://www.musicfromangelfire.org Music from Angel Fire
- http://musichouseinternational.org/ Music House International
- http://www.nationalmusic.us National Music Festival
- https://www.northernlightsmusic.org Northern Lights Music Festival
- http://www.omnipresentmusicfestival.org Omnipresent Music Festival
- https://philadelphiamusicfestival.org/ Philadelphia International Music Camp & Festival
