Just when I think I’ve discovered all the joys and pleasures this wonderful village has to offer, I discover something new. Last night I went to a glorious piano and cello concert at the Centre Artistique de Piégon – just a hop, skip and jump away from Mirabel. Indeed my favorite daily walk is to Piégon, just 2 km (1.2 miles) away. This was the first time I’d been to the Centre and I was delighted to discover it. The beautiful large home housing the Centre looks out from a hilltop over the stunning Piegon/Mirabel countryside. How could you improve on a stage made from the stone walls of the ramparts of an ancient castle? We sat on chairs on the grass while the sun set behind us and, later, the stars shone above. Thoughtfully, the Centre provides blankets to keep you warm as the evening cooled down after the sun set.
The beautiful setting for the Centre Artistique de Piegon. The concert was held underneath the tower on the right side of the photo.
The musicians were Sylvie Jacquemin (piano) and Armin Riffel (cello). Their program was rich and full; they offered exquisite, seldom-played works by composers I was familiar with and one I was not. I particularly enjoyed the 3 Chansons sans Paroles by the German/Israeli composer, Ben-Haïm (Paul Frankenburger), a composer whose works I want to learn more about. After the concert, we were served aperatif (wine, juice and canapés) on the spacious terrace beside the house, overlooking the valley below. The evening was magical. The Centre offers concerts, classes and lectures year-round and is a rich resource I’m sure we’ll return to often. How lucky we are to have found this corner of the world! –Dory
View of the stage and chairs for the audience before the concert began. We arrived early so we could walk around the grounds before the concert and absorb the beauty of this special place.