Monrepos Open Air 2026

Classical Music Under the Open Sky at the Rococo Palace

On Friday, July 17, 2026, at 9:00 PM, one of the most beautiful open-air events of the Ludwigsburg Palace Festival begins: the Monrepos Open Air. On the festival meadow at the Monrepos Lakeside Palace — a Rococo pleasure palace set amidst an English park landscape by the lake — the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen will perform a French classical program titled "Une nuit en France" under the direction of French conductor Ariane Matiakh.

Program: French Romanticism and Impressionism

The program showcases French classical music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The brilliant highlight is Ravel's "Boléro" — that hypnotic crescendo that transforms a simple musical idea into a 15-minute orchestral escalation. Also featured are Debussy's "Fêtes" from the Three Nocturnes, Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No. 1 with Emmanuelle Bertrand as soloist, works by Paul Dukas (likely excerpts from "L'apprenti sorcier"), and Henri Duparc. An almost textbook journey through the French orchestral tradition.

The Soloist: Emmanuelle Bertrand

Emmanuelle Bertrand is one of the most renowned French cellists of her generation. With her warm, intense tone and broad repertoire — from Bach to contemporary composers — she is at home on Europe's major concert stages. Her recordings of cello sonatas by French composers Debussy and Franck are among the most recommended in her field. In Ludwigsburg, she will interpret Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor — one of the most popular works in the cello repertoire.

The Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen

The Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen is one of the most important orchestras in Baden-Württemberg. With around 130 concerts annually — symphony concerts in Reutlingen, guest performances throughout Germany and abroad — it is a firm fixture on the South German classical scene. Conductor Ariane Matiakh, born in France and active internationally, is ideal for this program as a specialist in French repertoire.

Monrepos Lakeside Palace — Rococo Idyll near Ludwigsburg

The Monrepos Lakeside Palace is located about 3 kilometers northwest of Ludwigsburg city center, nestled in an English park landscape with a man-made lake. Built between 1764 and 1767 under Duke Carl Eugen of Württemberg as a summer residence, it is an example of delicate Rococo architecture — today, it houses the private Schlosshotel Monrepos. The festival meadow in front of the palace serves as the natural concert stage: a wide lawn, the palace as a backdrop, the lake to the side, and old trees acting as acoustic reflectors. It is one of the most beautiful classical open-air venues in Germany.

Ludwigsburg Palace Festival — Top-Class Classical Music

The Ludwigsburg Palace Festival is one of the oldest and most renowned classical festivals in Germany. Founded in 1932 as the "Mozart Festival," it now encompasses symphony concerts, chamber music, opera, dance, and jazz, as well as open-air events. The Monrepos Open Air is one of the season's most popular events — classical music in an atmosphere that far surpasses the usual concert hall setting.