Finally able to travel overseas with relative freedom, I seized the opportunity to return to Aix-en-Provence in southern France for the 2022 Festival International d’Art Lyrique d’Aix-en-Provence. Held in July each year, this classical-music event was established in 1948, amidst a post-war renaissance of the arts that also gave rise to the Cannes Film Festival in 1946 and the Avignon Festival in 1947.

L’incoronazione di Poppea © Ruth Walz

With its excellent program and organisation, the three-week festival has never disappointed me. Directed by Pierre Audi, it attracts visitors from all over the world, although locals told me that South-East Asian travellers are yet to return. From early times to the present day, the festival’s program straddles genres including opera, symphonic works, recitals, jazz, world music, talks and chamber music. This year’s lineup included everything from Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea to the young Portuguese piano accordionist João Barradas and piano virtuoso Tarek Yamani playing a fusion of Afro-American jazz and classical Arabian music.

The festival has been of special interest to Australians because of its collaborations with the Adelaide Festival, which featured the 2019 Aix festival production of Mozart’s Requiem directed...