Breizh a Gan, in partnership with the Kenleur confederation, is a major festival of Breton choral singing, held every year on the first Sunday in December since 1982.
Prochaine édition
A look back at the 41st Breizh a Gan in pictures
Breizh a Gan 2023 in Vannes: An edition dedicated to the singing of Vannes
Once again this year, the Breizh a Gan will be held over two days: Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December 2023 in Vannes. In addition, for its 41st edition, the Fédération Kanomp Breizh wants to highlight choral singing from the Vannes region.
Please find below the Breizh A Gan programme by day.
Saturday 2 December
Study day - Ti Ar Vro Bro Gwened
Just like last year, we will be holding another study day on Saturday under the CRBC label. The aim of this study day is to examine the specific characteristics of choral singing in the Vannes region, inviting specialists in the field to discuss and compare their information and points of view on the subject.
The study day will take place in the amphitheatre of Ti Ar Vro Bro Gwened.
Below is the list of speakers who will take part in this study day:
- Yves Coativy (Director of the CRBC): Introduction to the study day
- Jean-Pierre Thomin (President of the Fédération Kanomp Breizh and associate researcher at the CRBC): Bleun-Brug vannetais
- Myriam Guillevic (Senior Lecturer) : Vannes choral singing
- Anne-Marie Dumerchat-Schouten (Associate Researcher at the CRBC): The work of Jef Le Penven.
- Philippe Le Ferrand (Father Adrien Collet’s successor in the Sylvia choir) / André Guillevic (Rector of the parish and shrine of Sainte-Anne-d’Auray and founder of the Academy of Music and Sacred Arts) / Bruno Belliot (Director of the Academy of Music and Sacred Arts) : The importance of Sainte-Anne-d’Auray in the Vannes choral movement
Practical information:
- Address: Ti Ar Vro Bro Gwened – 3 rue de la Loi 56000 VANNES
- Price: Free with registration
- Schedule: 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm
- Capacity: 200 people
- Registration: kanompbreizh@kanompbreizh.bzh / 06 32 29 79 29
Meal with song - Espace Montcalm
- After the day of study, Saturday will end with a singing meal led by a group of singers from Kanerion An Oriant.
Menu :
- Starter: Scallops au gratin with leeks and mushrooms
- Main course: “Rost er Forn” (traditional pork roast from Vannes)
- Dessert: Fresh fruit salad
The evening will take place at Espace Montcalm in Vannes.
Practical information:
- Address: Espace Montcalm – 55 rue Monseigneur Tréhiou 56000 VANNES
- Price: €25
- Schedule: 7pm
- Capacity: 150 people
- Registration: Registration closed on 25 November.
Sunday 3 December
On Sunday 3 December, Breizh A Gan itself, a major Breton choral concert, will be held in Vannes cathedral.
Programming
1st part :
For this 41st edition in Vannes, Kanomp Breizh wanted to honour the choirs of the Vannes region.
So in the first part we find :
- Chœur An Alré, directed by Françoise Pasco
- Kanerion An Oriant, directed by Loïc Rousseau
- Kanerion Pleuigner, directed by Alain Le Hénanff
2nd part:
Anna Vreizh (directed by Bernard Quemener)
Anna Vreizh was founded over 20 years ago by the talented choral conductor Yvonne Breilly-Le Calvez (who died earlier this year). Now directed by Bernard Quemener, the choir promotes culture in Loire-Atlantique by singing traditional and contemporary Breton songs. Anna Vreizh’s enthusiasm and inventiveness paid off this year, as the choir won the 2023 Brittany Choir Championship and is now the reigning champion.
The Brittany Choral Ensemble (directed by Jean-Marie Airault)
The Choral Ensemble is made up of around a hundred singers from sixteen choirs that are members of Kanomp Breizh. They come from all over Brittany, from Ploudalmézeau to Nantes. These choral singing enthusiasts are led by an experienced conductor who is just as passionate about bringing Breton choral singing to life: Jean-Marie Airault. They are accompanied on stage by an instrumental ensemble.
Après avoir fait vibrer le Palais des Congrès de Lorient en août dernier dans le cadre du Festival Interceltique de Lorient, L’Ensemble Choral de Bretagne présentera de nouveau l’oratorio celtique pour chœurs et instruments Izild a Vreizh de Jean-Yves Le Ven, dont les textes ont été écrits par Jéva Omnes. Voilà de quoi réchauffer et ravir le public vannetais !
This poem, written in successive tableaux, takes us from Ireland and Cornwall to the shores of Penmarc’h, where our heroes meet their tragic end. In this suite of 14 choirs and 3 instrumental pieces, the original compositions are interspersed with traditional themes where melodies and dances alternate between jig, gavotte, real and an-dro.
Practical information:
- Address: Vannes Cathedral
- Schedule: 2.30 p.m.: Doors open – 3 p.m.: Concert begins
Online reservations
- Helloasso
- Kanomp Breizh (by sending a cheque payable to Kanomp Breizh: cz/ JP Thomin, 200 rue de la Petite Palud – 29800 LANDERNEAU)
- Gulf of Morbihan Office
For more information:
A look back at the 40th Breizh A Gan in pictures
A look back at the 40th Breizh A Gan in pictures
This year, Breizh A Gan will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in Saint-Pol-de-Léon! For the occasion, the event will be held exceptionally over 2 days, on the weekend of 03 and 04 December 2022.
Please find below the Breizh A Gan programme by day.
Saturday 03 December
Study day on choral singing - Château de Kerjean
On Saturday 03 December, a study day on Breton choral singing will be held at the Château de Kerjean in partnership with the CRBC (Centre de Recherche Bretonne et Celtique). This study day will be divided into two parts. The first part will be devoted to the origins of choral singing in Breton (through papers), while the second part will look at the future prospects for this cultural discipline (in a round-table discussion with those involved in choral singing).
More information on the speakers at this study day will be announced shortly!
- Address: Route de Kerjean, 29440 Saint-Vougay
- Price: Free with registration
- Schedule: 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm
- Capacity: 80 people
- Registration: kanompbreizh@kanompbreizh.bzh / 06 32 29 79 29
Sung meal - Auberge de Pen Ar Prat
Saturday will end with a sing-along meal at the Pen Ar Prat inn, hosted by the Paotred Pagan choir, directed by Yann-Ber Premel!
- Address: Pen Ar Prat – 29250 Saint-Pol-de-Léon
- Menu: Grilled pig with potatoes and vegetable stew
- Price: €20
- Schedule: 7pm
- Capacity: 130 people
- Bookings closed on 25 November.
- Further information: kanompbreizh@kanompbreizh.bzh / 06 32 29 79 29
Sunday 04 December
On Sunday 04 December, Breizh A Gan itself, a major Breton choral concert, will be held at Saint-Pol-de-Léon cathedral.
Programming
1st part of concert :
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Breizh A Gan, Kanomp Breizh wanted as many of its member choirs as possible to take part in the 1st part of the concert. That’s why the choirs have grouped together by terroir to present a joint programme exclusively for the public!
2nd part of the concert :
Mouezh Paotred Breizh (Directed by Jean-Marie Airault)
This choir, seven-time champions of Brittany, is the reigning champion. Renowned wherever it performs for the quality of its interpretations, Mouezh Paotred Breizh was founded on the model of the Welsh choirs to take part in the World Choir gathering in Atlanta in 1993. Since then, he has never wavered from his high standards, giving numerous concerts every year in Brittany, France and abroad.
The Brittany Choral Ensemble (directed by Jean-Marie Airault)
The Choral Ensemble is made up of around a hundred singers from sixteen choirs that are members of Kanomp Breizh. They come from all over Brittany, from Ploudalmézeau to Nantes. These choral singing enthusiasts are led by an experienced conductor who is just as passionate about bringing Breton choral singing to life: Jean-Marie Airault. They are accompanied on stage by an instrumental ensemble.
- Address: Saint-Pol-de-Léon Cathedral
- Schedule: 2.30 p.m.: Doors open – 3 p.m.: Concert begins
- Helloasso
- Ticketmaster
- France Billet
- Kanomp Breizh (by sending a cheque payable to Kanomp Breizh: cz/ JP Thomin, 200 rue de la Petite Palud – 29800 LANDERNEAU)
You can also buy tickets for Breizh A Gan at the Saint-Pol-de-Léon Tourist Office.
kanompbreizh@kanompbreizh.bzh / 06 32 29 79 29
