On the occasion of the launch of the inaugural year of Sainte Réparate Cathedral in Nice, an anniversary concert organised by the association les Moments Musicaux des Alpes-Maritimes will take place with the Ensemble baroque Café Zimmermann on 3 May at 8.30 pm, paying tribute to the consecration of this place, a true jewel of baroque art.

After eight years of work, after a vast exterior and interior restoration project, Sainte-Réparate Cathedral has regained its lustre. The entire building has been restored, including masonry, painting, faux marble, gypsum (plaster and stucco), stained glass, electricity, ironwork, lighting, sound system, as well as 16 paintings restored in Marseille

To restore its brilliance to this authentic jewel of Baroque art, the craftsmen have endeavoured to recover the original chromatic palette, in shades of grey, Genoese blue and gold on a background of ochres of several shades. Thus the jewel of Nice's architectural heritage

Father Michel Angella, administrator of the Cathedral, supervised the smooth progress of the work, together with the supervisory authorities involved in the embellishment process. The building, owned by the French State, which financed the entire operation, also benefited from the support of the Alpes-Maritimes General Council, the City of Nice and private sponsors, as well as from the expertise of the chief architect of the Monuments Historiques and the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs for its rehabilitation

The baroque music ensemble Café Zimmermann is now in residence there for its rehearsal sessions and will host the inaugural cultural year. An exceptional cultural event on the French Riviera

Café Zimmermann's residence project at the Sainte Réparate Cathedral in Nice was born out of a common desire: to make music resonate in this beautiful baroque setting.
This partnership will take several forms. Café Zimmermann, renowned for its interpretation of 17th and 18th century music, particularly the repertoire of Johann Sebastian Bach, will be offering instrumental and vocal programs and making them resonate in this architectural jewel

This project is also an opportunity to promote the heritage influence of the city of Nice. Finally, transmission is at the heart of the Café Zimmermann musicians' approach: workshops and concerts will be organised in schools but also for "impeded" audiences (particularly in hospitals) in order to raise awareness of the aesthetics of baroque music among a wider public

The association "Les Moments Musicaux des Alpes-Maritimes" was founded to share musical moments of excellence with a wide public, to conduct educational actions and to support charitable projects. To ensure artistic and musical quality, the programming is entrusted to Céline Frisch and Pablo Valetti, artistic directors of the Café Zimmermann ensemble in residence

This cultural adventure begins on 3 May 2015 on the occasion of the inauguration of the restoration work on the Cathedral of Saint Reparate. During the year 2015, four major concerts will be offered by Céline Frisch and Pablo Valetti, artistic directors of Café Zimmermann, surrounded by : Emöke Barath, Kristina Hammarstrom, Damien Guillon, The Elements Chamber Choir

This date marks the revival of a major cultural activity at Nice Cathedral with the aim of creating, in 2016, a "Sacred Music" season

Program

- 3 May 2015: inaugural concert Works by Vivaldi, J.S. Bach, Handel with Emöke Barath, soprano.

- 17 September 2015: charity concert for the benefit of the Lenval Foundation - Works by Vivaldi, Heandel and Ferrandini, with Kristina Hammarström, mezzo soprano.

- October 8, 2015: J.S.Bach cantatas with Damien Guillon, against tenor

- December 16, 2015: Christmas concert with the Chamber Choir Les Eléments