The Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges announces its 2025 programming, honoring the 280th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges.

This year, the Festival will feature international representation of artists from over 20 countries.  Performances include orchestra concerts, chamber music recitals, choral concerts, exhibitions, lectures, master classes, workshops, an opera, and the inauguration of the Joseph Bologne International Violin Competition.

A highlight of the Festival is a concert performance of Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci,” on Nov. 19. This marks the Festival’s first presentation of a complete opera. Limmie Pulliam takes on the lead role as Canio. Pulliam is joined by Michelle Johnson as Nedda, Darnell Ishmel as Tonio, Leo Williams as Peppe, and Franco Pomponi as Silvio.

Mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel makes her orchestral debut in the closing concert, “Songs of the New World.” The program includes the Scene and Aria from Bologne’s opera “Ernestine,” Hector Berlioz’s “Le spectre de la rose,” and Joseph Canteloube’s “Chants d’Auvergne,” among others. This concert is scheduled for Nov. 23.

The Festival’s Artistic and Musical Director, Marlon Daniel said in a press release, “In this landmark anniversary year of Joseph Bologne’s birth, we are committed to making Guadeloupe a true mecca for classical music. We invite the world to rediscover their love for music and the arts amidst the beauty of the French Caribbean.”

The 2025 Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges, which runs Nov. 15-23, is supported by the Conseil Régional de la Guadeloupe, among others.

Read Related Stories

• Composer Profile: Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Composer of Six Operas

• Q&A: James Conlon, Marlon Daniel, & Maria Todaro on Their Shared Devotion to the Life and Works of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges