Château de Chantilly, © Sophie Lloyd

A new music festival “Les Coups de Coeur à Chantilly” celebrating revered pianist Martha Argerich‘s 80 th birthday, a new administrateur général for the castle, Didier Selles who comes from the Louvre, and a popular “Fête du Terroir” the week end of the 26 th of June. On Saturday July 3, the film Vatel with Gérard Depardieu will be screened at night in the gardens with a cocktail bar and a festive pick nick. The Prince de Condé’s magical castle is moving fast and becoming a rival of Versailles and Fontainebleau with more recreational activities. And it has one of the most gorgeous painting collections in France!

Martha Argerich and Maxim Vengerov in Chantilly, © Marina Bourdais

A year ago, Prince Karim Aga Khan decided to leave Château de Chantilly which he had been very generously sponsoring for the last 18 years but his brother Prince Amyn, a man of great culture and love for music, has been faithful to Serge Sobczynski and pianist Iddo Bar-Shai in their project of creating a music festival in the famous 18 th century stables designed by Jean Aubert. This year, the three performances in honor of Martha Argerich (born in Buenos Aires on June 5, 1941) took place on June 11-13 th and were more of a family affair with the greatest soloists Evgueny Kissin, Gidon Kremer, Maxim Vengerov and her daughter Lyda Chen Argerich at the alto, but also two charming very young children, her grand son David Chen Argerich and his colleague Arielle Beck both playing Rachmaninov at the piano. It was a unique moment o excellence and fun combined. This festival will take place every year and the glorious background of the riding stables adds to the pleasure of the music.

On the 26 and 27 of June, a market of food and artisans will take place in the park with Chantilly cream tastings

Ceramists, stone carvers, Chantilly cream whippers, will be present in the gardens as well as members of the Mother of Pearl museum, Musée de la Nacre et de la Tabletterie in Méru which is staring an exhibition on “Shells from Science to Kitsch” and the Lace museum of Chantilly.

Musée de la Nacre is preparing an exhibition on “Shells, from Science to kitsch” and this is a loan from Musée de Dinan

Children will be able to ride donkeys and the famous riders trained by Sophie Bienaimé in the stables will demonstrate their talent on their horses. Chantilly will be coincidentally celebrating the arrival of its new administrateur général Didier Selles, a member of the Cour des Comptes, who has worked on the Louvre-Abu Dhabi museum deal and also on the future Centre National de la Musique. He has the qualities for reconciling this multifaceted place, which includes a horse museum with live shows, a beautiful painting collection, and one of André Le Nôtre‘s favorite gardens.

Didier Selles is the new Administrateur géneéral of Chantilly

Let’s wish him  great success!

Château de Chantilly, June 26 and 27. Fête du Terroir.