The 2009 Lille Piano(s) Festival represents an opportunity to (re)discover Chopin not just through his most famous work, but also through pieces more rarely performed. Also participating in the Festival is actress Marie-Christine Barrault who, along with accordionist Pascal Contet, will perform an original musical show dedicated to Chopin and Georges Sand, called “Lands of Dance” (Terres de danse).

Festival attendees will also enjoy performances of work by other major composers such as Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Strauss, Glazunov, Liszt, Debussy, Fauré, Ravel and Bartók.

BNP Paribas and its Foundation run numerous awareness initiatives, as much for employees as for the Bank’s customers in the French region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and in Belgium. Their joint support of the Lille Piano(s) Festival – which in particular enables the festival to offer low ticket prices and free concerts – helps introduce awareness and wider appreciation of the repertoire of the Lille National Orchestra and its performers to a first-time public.