Bardou
Bardou lies in the Parc Naturel du Haut Languedoc in the mountains near Montpellier in Southern France and is our special destination for those who appreciate the essentials of life. The accommodation is rustic but you will be rewarded with a unique setting of stunning scenery and tranquility. Consisting of twenty ancient stone houses, Bardou is an authentic example of the architecture and layout of a tiny medieval mountain hamlet.
Bardou is the perfect place for enjoying nature. Several marked trails offer short- or long-distance walks for all levels. You might also enjoy swimming in the refreshing waters of mountain streams with waterfalls and secluded deep rock pools.
A magical place. Learn more about Bardou, its history, about acommodation, the climate, what to discover around. Continue ...
Coming next in Bardou:
Symphonic Holiday
12th - 23rd July 2023
Symphonic Holiday
29th May - 9th June 2024

Symphonic Holiday
12th - 23rd July 2023
Conductor: David Sofer
Viola: Vincenzo Schembri
FELIX MENDELSSOHN, Overture "The Fair Melusine"
BOHUSLAV MARTINU, Rhapsody concerto for viola
MAX BRUCH, Romance for viola and orchestra
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 2
Vacancies for trumpet, timpani, strings
This Symphonic Holiday in Bardou lasts two days longer than the other courses, giving plenty of room also for chamber music. As in previous years, an informal chamber concert will be arranged in Bardou if the participants would like to present what they have studied the days before.
12th July 2023
Arrival of the participants in Bardou
ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS,
We will have two rehearsals per day, the first one in the morning, the second rehearsal in the evening after an early dinner.
The coaches will be in Bardou on the three days with sectionals (14th, 15th and 16th July).
In the afternoons you can explore the surrounding of Bardou with your hiking boots, dare a refreshing swim in the rock pools of the mountain streams or just enjoy the peace and quiet of Bardou.
17th JULY
A day without rehearsals, allowing longer excursions that might include: An outing to the beautiful historical town of Pézenas; visiting and wine tasting at local vineyards in the Faugère and St Chinian area; an exciting canoeing excursion on the river Orb or a hiking tour through the wonderful Caroux-plateau with its great variety of flora and fauna and stunning scenery including view of the Pyrenees.
21st JULY
In the evening we will have our firstl concert in in the church Saint-Majan of Villemagne l’Argentière.
22nd JULY
In the afternoon we will have our final concert in the city of Saint-Chinian in the church Notre Dame de la Barthe. Fare well dinner in Bardou
23rd July
Departure
ORCHESTRA
2 2 2 2 — 2 2 0 0 — tmp — str (except Bruch with only 1 flute and 1 oboe
The minimum instrumentation in the strings will be 4-4-3-3-1, maximum (due to the limited space in the rehearsal hall) 5-5-4-4-2.
TEAM
Conductor: David Sofer
Soloist and coach viola: Vincenzo Schembri
Coach violin : Rodrigo Bauzá
Coach cello / double bass: Constance Ricard
Wind sectionals with David Sofer
GENERAL INFORMATION / FAQ
Please do also read our general information with frequently asked questions on Symphonic Holidays.
ACCOMMODATION
The participants will be accommodated in various houses of the hamlet in double rooms. A limited number of single rooms is available. The standard of the houses reflect the humble nature of the place in general. Please pay attention to the fact that toilettes and showers are located in central facilities of the village. We have one house (with two beds) available with private bath / toilette.
MEALS
We will take our meals together which are based on Mediterranean cooking with fresh regional products.
TRAVEL
The nearest airports and long distance train stations are Montpellier, Béziers and Toulouse. From here you have connecting trains or busses to Mons la Trivalle and Bédarieux. Pick up service to Bardou is provided (Bardou is not connected to public transport). Click here for detailed information. We are happy to help you with organizing your trip!
A magic place. Learn more about Bardou, its history, the infrastructure, about the climate, what to discover around. Continue ...
PRICE
970,- € (students: 660,- €) including accommodation and meals. Not included are travel expenses and expenses on excursions.
240,- € single room supplement
Supplement for house with private bath / toilette (with two beds): 220,- € each person
We can provide bedding (duvet/blanket, pillow, bed linen) and towels for 15,- €.
BOOKING
If you wish to book this Symphonic Holiday kindly use the booking form or send us an e.mail (mail@dacapo-travel.eu, writing in English, German, French or Italian). Your booking is binding as soon as we have confirmed it.
The reduced fee for students is limited to the number of five places on this Symphonic Holiday. Please send us an e.mail with a copy of your student id.
A non-refundable deposit of 150,- € is payable on confirmation that a booking has been accepted. The balance of the price is to be paid by 12th May 2023.
Minimum group size 30 participants. We might decide to cancel a programme if at any time up to three month before there were insufficient bookings. We would refund everything you had paid to us. We do not refund your travel expenses if you had booked your trip (for example flights or trains) prior to our confirmation of the programme.
“Thank you so much for an amazing holiday in Bardou. From the moment I arrived to the moment I left I had such a wonderful time. The place itself took my breath away. All the rehearsals were enjoyable and everybody was so welcoming. I had so much fun and I will definitely be joining you again in a future summer to go on this adventure again. You are an amazing cook, I have never eaten so much delicious food!”
Vinthya (violin), Manchester / United Kingdom
“Una fantastica esperienza con una bellissima e simpatica orchestra, tra musica, buon cibo e tante stelle cadenti. Alla prossima!”
Bianca (violin), Venice / Italy
„Das wunderbare Essen, die Musik, das Dorf, die tolle Landschaft, viele interessante, nette und besondere Menschen – zum widerholten Male eine gelungene Komposition. Danke!“
Paula (bassoon), Essen / Germany
“Merci pour ce merveilleux séjour, cette générosité, cette musique, et cette cuisine! J’espère à très bientôt."
Charlotte (viola), Besançon / France
“Es ist jedesmal unvergesslich! Ich komme gerne immer wieder. Bis nächstes Jahr!”
Christian (timpani), Hildesheim / Germany
“Grazie per questa bellissima esperienza. Bardou è un luogo magico in cui mi sono sentita bene dal primo momento.”
Violette (cello), Marseille / France
“Thank you so much for this lovely experience, I will sure remember the Sinfonietta for a long time!”
Gal (oboe), Tel Aviv / Israel
„Ein zauberhafter Ort, vorzügliche kulinarische Versorgung und beste Organisation – gute Voraussetzungen für das Gedeihen der Musik und die menschlichen Begegnungen.“
Valentin (violin), Hamburg / Germany
“Vielen Dank für alles!”
Maurice (clarinet), Breda / Netherlands
“A rewarding experience in all aspects and a musical pilgrimage.”
Timur (clarinet), Ankara / Turkey
„Du hast dafür gesorgt, dass wir wunderbar zusammen musizieren konnten. Alles Gute und hoffentlich bis bald!“
Dagny (violin), Leipzig / Germany
„Thank you so much for your organizing, delicious cooking and giving us the possibility to play and enjoy this place together!“
Kristina (Bassoon), Kristianstad / Sweden
„Thank you to Brian and Betsy for hosting us in the gorgeous place; to Jonas for his diligent organization and fabulous meals; to Wolfram for his kind and thoughtful assistance; to Cayenna for her inspiring conducting and coaching; and to all of the musicians for their friendly and heart warming welcome.“
Mathieu (oboe), Montpellier / France
"Viele Dank für die zwei tolle Wuche! D’Musigg und s’Ässe sind einfach unglaublich gsii und es sind so fill wunderbare Lüüt daa gsii. Ich wird das alles sehr vermisse und hoffe schwäre ich chan nöchst Jahr wieder debii sii!“
Laura (flute), Zurich / Switzerland
“Mir hat es Riesenspaß gemacht mit euch in Bardou, war einfach alles dabei: Musik, tolle Gegend, Outdoor, super Leute, leckeres Essen...”
Raphael (oboe), Stuttgart / Germany
“I have had a lovely week in this charming, maybe even exquisite historic village. Thank you Betsy and Brian for preserving the village, and Jonas, for his organization and cooking. I have, however, mostly enjoyed the friendship and music – a magic week!”
Bill (violin), Melbourne / Australia
“J’ai découvert cet extraordinaire village de Bardou. Quell joie d’être ici et de connaitre toutes ces personnes differentes et attachantes réunies autour de la musique. Merci de m’avoir invité, je garderai un souvenir —— de mon séjour et de la musique avec la Sinfonietta Bardou. Merci á Frédéric, Jonas et les autres et j’espère à bientôt.”
Michel (double bass), Lausanne / Switzerland
“Zum 4. Mal hier … und jedesmal eine weitere spannende Erfahrung – nicht nur musikalisch (und gastronomisch!) sondern ziemlich spirituell. Mittlerweile denke ich, dass Bardou einen ändert … nicht zum schlechten.”
Walther (viola), Stuttgart / Germany

Symphonic Holiday
29th May - 9th June 2024
Details coming soon
