The Grand Forces Orchestra gently wanders across the Indre River

It’s a mini peloton that will criss-cross the roads of Indre from Monday, May 13 to Tuesday, May 21, but it won’t go unnoticed. The cyclists in question are actually musicians and will travel with their instruments, carefully protected against the vagaries of the weather.

This little pedal world, equipped with trailers, belongs to the Les Forces Majeurs orchestra, which has planned a traveling symphony tour, using calf power, on the theme “Tune your bikes!” »

Indoor and outdoor concerts and entertainment

This is a practice of variable dimensions created in 2014 by Rafael Merlin, conductor, cellist and composer. It currently consists of twenty artists and five accompanists who convey an artistic vision open to diversity, but also the desire to share certain values ​​of solidarity, coexistence and availability for contemplation.

Over the course of three years, the group covered nearly 500 kilometers on roads in northern and eastern France, the Paris region and Switzerland before a 200-kilometre Peri journey with arrivals and departures in Chateauroux via Brienne and Argenton-sur-Creuz.

Seventeen outdoor concerts are planned, mainly on Romfort Beach, or at venues such as Equinox in Chateauroux or Avant Scene Theater in Argenton. The tour will stop at Luant, Migné, Rosnay, Le Blanc, Ciron and Saint-Gaultier, stop at the Chapter Nature Festival in Argenton and return to Châteauroux via Neuillay-les-Bois.

Finale with 130 singers in Équinoxe

It will also feature school outings and activities, and will end in the large Equinox Hall with a symphony concert bringing together 130 singers, presented by Nelson Monfort.

“The musicians will be accommodated in hostels or with local residents“, specifies Claire Cullen, responsible for recycling science. People who wish can accompany them by bicycle during this trip dedicated to both classical music and the environment. » It is both a cultural and sporting challenge, and fortunately one that will benefit from progress. Trailers containing large instruments, including double basses, will be towed by electric-powered bicycles.

Most concerts are free, except for Ceron (May 16) and Equinox (May 21). Paid Concert Reservations: Bryn Provincial Nature Park: Tel. 02.54.28.12.13 or info@parc-naturel-brenne.fr. Equinox: Phone. 02.54.08.34.34 or billetterie@equinoxe-chateauroux.fr; To follow the bike tour: Tel. 06.51.33.48.44 or Accordezvosvelos@gmail.fr