Dear friends,

2010 marks the thirteenth season of Lyrique-en-mer, and brings a new board and a new executive to the Festival. This new team, made up of new and former members will be working with Richard Cowan, the festival's founder and artistic director, with Philip Walsh, its music director, and with the Belle-ile Choir to assure the success of the 2010 season.

The programme for 2010 is a prestigious one. It comprises two great operas of Mozart and Verdi: Cosi fan tutte and Rigoletto, performed in the wonderful Arsenal of the Citadelle, and also Fauré's Requiem and other choral works by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Richard Cowan, performed in the churches of Belle-Ile. This year, ten boats will be transporting audience members from the mainland, from La Trinité-sur-mer, Port Navalo and Quiberon to Belle-Ile.

This year the local authorities, most notably from the communes of Belle-ile and the wider Brittany region will be supporting more fully the Festival Lyrique, which has become over the years one of the great west coast musical festivals, recognised by France Musique and Telerama.

The new team has started implementing an extensive development, the main thrust of which is: the pursuance of a high-quality festival, rooted in the selection of young singers, some of whom are already well established, from the United States and Europe; the setting up of an educational and musical project in Belle-Ile with the Choir, other musical associations, and schools for children and young people; the spread of the festival to the mainland, notably Morbihan; and the structuring of private and public partnerships, with the intent of providing security and growth to the Festival.

Ticket bookings for our performances in 2010 have started off well. An opera evening in Belle-Ile-en-mer is a magical experience.

A warm welcome to you all!

Jacques Huntzinger