Le Mans Sonore: 5 Things To Know About The International Biennial Of Sound

Event at the intersection of science and culture, Le Mans Sonore is the only international biennial of sound. Here are 5 things to know about this unique cultural, scientific, and professional gathering.

The Le Mans Sonore is a one-of-a-kind event in the world.

Contrary to what its name might suggest, Le Mans Sonore is much more than a simple music festival. This event, which was created in 2019, is the only international biennial dedicated to sound.

This meeting honors sounds of all kinds and the mysteries of acoustics. For one week, the capital of Sarthe comes alive with concerts as well as conferences, exhibitions, and other activities.

This biennial with an eclectic program is a hybrid event, both cultural and scientific, targeting professionals and the general public.

Le Mans is the capital of sound.

It is no coincidence that the only "International Sound Biennale" takes place in the capital of Sarthe. Le Mans hosts both educational institutions and companies specializing in acoustics.

The city is particularly known for housing the "Acoustics Laboratory of the University of Le Mans or LAUM," a research unit of the University of Le Mans and the CNRS, which works on audible sounds as well as vibrations and ultrasounds.

Le Mans is "the capital of sound" and proves it every two years during the event Le Mans Sonore! More than just a festival, this event is an opportunity for popularization and scientific dissemination.

The programming is eclectic.

Le Mans Sonore offers a program centered around sound in all its forms. This biennial event, which brings together experts, scientists, musicians, and artists, eliminates the boundaries between disciplines.

Each edition features an incredibly rich program, combining concerts, sound installations, performances, workshops, symposiums, conferences, competitions, and urban journeys.

This meeting point of music and innovation is a unique cultural, scientific, and professional event. It aims to be inclusive for all audiences, especially since much of its programming is free.

This biennial offers unprecedented experiences.

Whether you are an experienced listener or a complete novice, Le Mans Sonore invites you to rediscover sound like you've never heard it before! The major innovation of the 2024 edition is a "sound dome" specially installed for the occasion in the main square of Le Mans, facing the cathedral.

This dome is the world's first structure dedicated to immersive sound. During the biennial, it hosts an audience of 500 to 600 people who come to listen to music, live concerts, and broadcasts and podcasts offered by Radio France.

The dome was acquired by Le Mans Métropole to be subsequently converted into a traveling facility capable of hosting 3D sound projects.

The 2024 edition has a prestigious patron.

Le Mans Sonore is held for the third time in the city from January 20 to 28, 2024. This third edition, which offers a hundred activities around sound, is sponsored by the internationally renowned Jean-Michel Jarre.

The artist, who has been practicing electro-acoustic music for over 50 years, loves to open new perspectives. Despite having twenty studio albums and as many memorable concerts around the world, Jean-Michel Jarre never tires of exploring new sonic territories.

His shows, which are futuristic sound and light spectacles, make him the French artist who gathers the most spectators worldwide. The Biennale he sponsors this year shares his desire to create unique and unifying sensory experiences, as highlighted by the theme of the 2024 edition: "Transmissions".