"Perhaps one of the finest editions of the Anches d'Azur": what awaits you at this free festival in La Croix-Valmer

"Perhaps one of the finest editions of the Anches d'Azur." Its founder, Jean-Luc Wastable, at the head of the musical ensemble of La Croix-Valmer, is not exaggerating when he talks about this new edition of the Croisien festival.

From the very beginning, the festival has sailed through several locations to bring these musical tunes to the world.

"But we didn't have this scale," its creator readily acknowledges. Today, the festival benefits from "global ramifications" that strengthen it. As proof, it was the Australian orchestra scheduled for this season that contacted Jean-Luc Wastable to play at La Croix-Valmer.

With the internet and the musicians who have appeared over the 27 editions since 1986, the appeal of this event continues unabated. Once again, this pianist has invited some big names.

Friday brings the surprise of the festival: an orchestra from Australia, the Ballarat Wind Orchestra, will perform with a soloist from the Sydney Opera House. "They're going to create a whole musical story. I don't even know about it myself!"

Free shows

On Saturday, the stage will be expanded to accommodate the 115 Slovenian musicians and choristers of the Cantabile Symphony Orchestra, Adoramus Choir & Musica Viva Choir.

"Anyone who loves music" will appreciate the arias of Puccini, Verdi, or in another dimension, Nessum Dorma, La Traviata and O Fortuna from Carmina Burana.

On Sunday, the "final bouquet" will feature the University of Las Vegas (UNLV Wind Orchestra), accompanied by four seasoned musicians who have worked with Chick Corea, Elton John, Wayne Shorter, and Stan Getz. Along with these senior students, they will perform standards and modern hits by Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, and Stevie Wonder.

Also not to be missed is this group from Mayenne, Tubattack, "in a rather rare format" , simply composed of tubas and euphoniums.

As for the Ensemble Musical de La Croix-Valmer, it will serve as the unifying element for this final Sunday evening. For its concert, at 6:30 p.m. in the Jardin du Train des Pignes, its conductor Jean-Luc Wastable has invited a singer for a session combining a Jean-Jacques Goldman medley and an immersion in the French repertoire.

Full program for the three-day festival. www.lacroixvalmertourisme.com