8th edition Rhodes
4th edition Paris
DETAILED PROGRAM PARIS 2026
PARIS - RHODES
3rd to 5th of July 2026
Festival European Polyphony 2026 in Paris
Celebrating Greek, French, Estonian Creation: Music, visual and sound arts
Created by the associations Arts Spontanés (France) and Ars Artis (Greece), the festival will present its 4th edition in Paris from July 3 to 5, 2026, before celebrating its 8th edition on the island of Rhodes in Greece in October.
A space for cooperation and cultural exchange, the Paris edition proposes a three-day program offering the public of Paris and the Greek diaspora community a rich and immersive artistic experience. The Festival aims to highlight the cultural cooperation between Greece, France, and Estonia, while strengthening the international promotion of Rhodes and the South Aegean.
Program
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Drawings and photography exhibition to discover the beauty and majesty of the island of Rhodes
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Classical music concert, with mixed choir, solo violin, and organ
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Classical music concert, with mixed choir and violin (presenting a contemporary new creation and works from the Romantic period ), with an introductory speech on the myth of Odysseus
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A conference to raise awareness about ecology and the role of art in the environmental transition, followed by the screening of a short film
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Gastronomy workshop, Flavors and aromas of Ancient Greece
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An interactive vocal workshop exploring polyphony, open to both children and adults
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Musical Promenade, with Estonian polyphonic repertoire in nature
Artists and Guests
Ensemble Dulci Jubilo, Chœur de Grenelle, Christopher Gibert, Alix Dumon-Debaecker, Thomas Ospital, Savvas Karantzias, Chrysanthos Antoniou, Spyros Syropoulos, Peggy Herbeau, Christophe Fillieule, Clément Thoby, Association Sorbonne Antique, Lucie Damianthe, Eloïse Borderie, Julia Le Gallo, Martin Balmand
The European Polyphony Festival supports artistic creation through interdisciplinary, cross-cultural co-operations, in collaboration with Sorbonne University and the Festivals du Parc Floral de Paris.
Partners and Supporters
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City of Rhodes and the Rhodes Tourism Promotion Organization (PROTOUR)
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City of Paris
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The Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT)
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Embassy of Estonia in Paris
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Festivals of the Parc Floral and the Department of Green Spaces and Environment of the Parc Floral de Paris
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Sorbonne University, History Department of the Faculty of Humanities – Sorbonne University, Association Sorbonne Antique
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GMBA, Walter Allinial
Practical Information
Dates: July 3–5, 2026
Venues: Sorbonne University, Church Saint-Eustache, Parc Floral de Paris
Admission: Free for all events (except entry to the Parc Floral), reservation required
More info: www.festivaleuropeanpolyphony.com / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube
Press contact: epolyphonyfestival[@]gmail.com
DETAILED PROGRAM
Friday July 3, 2026
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Concert Katharsis, Mediterranean Sound Encounters
Two contemporary creations: Katharsis by the Greek composer Savvas Karantzias and Hymnus by the French composer Christopher Gibert, brought together with the same artistic and spiritual impulse. Performed by Dulci Jubilo chamber choir, and accompanied by violin, percussion, and organ, this program offers a deeply intense sound experience.
Katharsis (2023-2024), for mixed choir, percussion, solo violin, and organ, is structured in nine movements like a vast meditative fresco. Dedicated to Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis, the piece builds a profound link between Greek and Estonian traditions, delving into inner dialogue and the universal dimension of musical expression. The violin and organ parts are improvised, offering the performers complete freedom and mirroring the shifting, unpredictable nature of the human soul.
In dialogue with this, Hymnus (2026) is inspired by a rare 13th-century Occitan-Cathar manuscript, blending texts from the New Testament with the "consolament" ritual. Through a minimalist yet vivid writing style, Christopher Gibert pursues a quest for light and simplicity. This is enriched by the poetry of Frank T’Hézan, creating a fragile bridge between ancient memory and modern voice.
This concert weaves a link between East and West, between heritage and creation, offering a unique musical experience that is both contemplative and profoundly human.
Artists: Ensemble Dulci Jubilo, Christopher Gibert (direction), Thomas Ospital (organ), Chrysanthos Antoniou (violin)
Date and Time: Vendredi 3 juillet at 20h30
Venue: Église Saint-Eustache, 2 Imp. Saint-Eustache - 75001 Paris
Ticket: free admission with reservation required
Saturday July 4
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CONFERENCE AND SCREENING: "Polyphonia Méditerranée: listening to the depths"
As part of the European Polyphony Paris 2026 Festival, the conference hosted by the Sorbonne explores the interactions between art, science and the Mediterranean environment.
It is the result of a collaboration between the artistic duo Eloïse Le Gallo and Julia Borderie, bioacoustician Olivier Adam, sedimentologist Christian Gorini and composer Martin Balmand. It presents a captivating work that combines underwater recordings, soundscapes and documentary excerpts.
The project explores our intuitive relationship with marine and terrestrial ecosystems, inviting us to perceive the Mediterranean not merely as a geographical space, but as a delicate polyphony where scientific discourse and artistic expression meet. It invites us to reflect on the various forms of coexistence in the planet and how we position ourselves in the world.
Artists: Eloïse Le Gallo and Julia Borderie
Date and Time: Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 11:00
Venue: Richelieu Amphitheatre of the Sorbonne, 17 rue de la Sorbonne - 75005, Paris
Ticket: Free admission with reservation required
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GASTRONOMY WORKSHOP: "Flavors and Aromas of Ancient Greece"
LEARN – PREPARE – TASTE WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE SORBONNE ANTIQUE ASSOCIATION
This culinary workshop, organized by the Sorbonne Antique Association, invites us to discover the tastes of ancient Greece. Inspired by the Odysseus’s journey, it will offer a clear view of the dietary habits of Ancient Greece, including a hands-on preparation of some classic Greek mezedes (appetizers). At the end of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to share a meal with the festival’s artists and organizers.
Date and Time: Saturday, July 4th from 11:00 to 12:00
Venue: Salle des Actes, Sorbonne University, 17 rue de la Sorbonne - 75005, Paris
Ticket: Free admission with reservation required
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PRELUDE & CONCERT
"Odysseus-The meeting of myth, word and music"
Pre-concert short introductory talk
The concert will be introduced by Spyros Syropoulos, Professor of Ancient Greek Literature at the University of the Aegean, who will present a brief yet comprehensive analysis of the episode of Odysseus's descent into Hades. By setting the mythological context of the musical work Hades, he will provide the audience with the right listening tools in order to enhance its artistic interpretation.
The work Odysseus was born out of a collaboration between Professor Spyros Syropoulos and the two co-directors of the European Polyphony Festival, Savvas Karantzias and Chrysanthos Antoniou. The full version of this project revisits eight episodes of the Odyssey through a structured interplay of narrative and musical creation. Inspired by the tradition of the rhapsodes, it highlights the universal, polyphonic and intercultural dimension of the Homeric epic. Each sequence combines a brief analysis of the narrative with a musical composition — including choral works — offering the audience an immersive and educational experience.
The aim of the programme is to propose a contemporary, accessible and innovative re-reading of the Odyssey, born from the encounter of art, science and cultural heritage.
Conference speaker: Spyros Syropoulos, Professor of Ancient Greek Literature at the University of the Aegean
"POLYPHONIA" CONCERT: A tribute to the art of choral music
Hades (2026), the new creation by Savvas Karantzias, follows the tradition of great choral works of spiritual inspiration, written from a totally contemporary point of view. Inspired by Odysseus’s journey and his descent into the Underworld, the work presents an intense dramaturgy, blending inner devotion with sonic exploration. It particularly stands out for the improvisational solo violin, which evokes the voices of the souls in Hades, expanding the poetic and narrative dimension of the musical work.
Similarly, the Mass in E-flat major (1878) by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger showcases the full richness of the Romantic choral tradition. Through its lucid writing and choral balance, this composition combines simplicity with expressive intensity, shifitng between contemplative reflection and powerful outbursts of deep spirituality.
The program also includes a presentation of the poetry collection Lieder (1877-1879) by Luise Adolpha Le Beau, a composer who remains little known today. Being a student of Rheinberger, she developed a delicate and expressive musical style for her poetic works. A remarkable figure of her era, she stood out for her sensitive lyricism and high artistic standards. In this way, the concert weaves a dialogue between myth and spirituality, through the lenses of tradition and creation.
Artists: Grenelle Choir, Alix Dumon-Debaecker (conductor), Chrysanthos Antoniou (violin)
Date and Time: Saturday, July 4 at 15:00
Venue: Richelieu Amphitheatre, Sorbonne, 17 rue de la Sorbonne - 75005
Ticket: Free admission with reservation required; an introductory lecture will take place before the concert, attendance at 15:00 is mandatory
Sunday 5 July 2026
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INTERACTIVE VOCAL WORKSHOP and MUSIC PROMENADE
The European Polyphony Festival presents an interactive vocal workshop open to everyone—adults and children—aiming to introduce participants to polyphonic music. Guided by the festival’s musicians and the singers of the Grenelle Choir, participants will have the opportunity to explore their voice, creativity, listening skills, and the experience of group singing.
This workshop fosters a unique encounter between artists and the public, making artistic practice accessible to all, regardless of age or prior experience.
MUSIC PROMENADE
Following the workshop, at 17:30, the Grenelle Choir, conducted by Alix Dumon-Debaecker, invites us to a poetic and immersive promenade through the Parc Floral de Paris, with a program titled “The Estonian Musical Soul.” The audience will have the opportunity to discover a cappella works by Estonian composers such as Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis, and Cyrillus Kreek, though an immersive journey in nature and choral sounds.
Date and Time: Sunday, July 5th from 14:30 to 15:30 Vocal Workshop, followed by the promenade at 17:30
Venue: Parc Floral de Paris, route de la Pyramide - 75012, Paris / Vocal workshop > Pavilion 7 and musical promenade > Delta Stage
Ticket: Free admission, reservation needed for the workshop - Parc Floral entry ticket required
EXHIBITIONS
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EXHIBITION-Drawings: "Following the light"
The exhibition “Following the Light” presents the artistic imprint of French illustrator Clément Thoby during his residency as part of the Festival’s 2024 program. Through exploring the city, discovering the island, its history and landscapes, the artist draws inspiration for a new series of works.
His drawings—vivid landscapes captured in colored pencil—reflect his impressions and wanderings. The exhibition will be hosted at the Parc Floral de Paris, where the works will be presented as large-format photographic prints, magnifying the artist’s gaze and perspective.
Artist:Clément Thoby
Dates: From July 3 to September 28, 2026
Venue: Parc Floral de Paris, Route de la Pyramide - 75012, Paris
Ticket: No reservation is needed - Parc Floral entry ticket required
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PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION: "Confluence(s)"
An original exhibition by Peggy Herbeau and Christophe Fillieule. "Confluence(s)" is a poetic journey through Rhodes, a testament to the traces of history intertwined with the island's natural beauty. The two creators capture the imprints of its past and the raw power of the island's nature. Having participated in the "European Polyphony Residency Program" during its fourth edition in October 2022, the two photographers are presenting the fruits of their work in France for the second time.
Artists: Peggy Herbeau and Christophe Fillieule
Dates: From July 5 to September 30, 2026
Venue: Watermael-Boitsfort Park, 60500 Chantilly
