An exhibition titled “Musiques en Aix” is currently running at the Hôtel de Boadès in Aix-en-Provence, offering visitors a visual journey through more than a century of the city’s musical history. Organized by the Ceppia association and the Ely heritage fund, the showcase brings together 222 vintage prints captured by four generations of the local Ely family photography studio, documenting cultural life in the southern French city from the late 19th century through the contemporary era.
A Century of Visual Memory in Aix-en-Provence
The exhibition coincides with the bicentennial celebrations of photography, marking 200 years since the pioneering work of Nicéphore Niépce. Rather than simply honoring an imaging technique, the curated selection traces both the evolution of photographic technology and the transformation of cultural life in Aix-en-Provence. According to organizers, the display serves as a historical archive chronicling local orchestras from the 1900s, 1930s working-class dances, and early editions of both the Festival d’art lyrique and the Saint-Pons pop festival.
Visitors walking through the Hôtel de Boadès encounter a comprehensive visual soundtrack of the region. The collection features legendary figures of French chanson and international jazz captured through the lenses of the Ely family studio. Framed prints spotlight performers such as Edith Piaf, Joséphine Baker, Charles Trenet, Jacques Brel, Georges Brassens, Charles Aznavour, and Johnny Hallyday. The jazz section highlights visits from musical icons including Sidney Bechet, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock.
Technical Innovation and Local Heritage
Beyond traditional concert photography, the exhibition documents landmark regional events such as the Francescatti competition, the Roque-d’Anthéron piano festival, Class’EuRock, and the Acousmies of Venelles, alongside contemporary hip-hop, rap, and electro-acoustic scenes. To complement the prints, organizers have assembled roughly 50 historical cameras, ranging from early wooden field models to early digital iterations.
A centerpiece of the equipment display is a proto-rotative contact printer designed by Henry Ely, the founder of the studio. The specialized machine enabled the rapid mass-production of picture postcards, capable of producing up to 2,000 prints in a single night. The Ely family studio operated as a chronicler of local life for nearly 140 years, and the archive is currently managed by Jean-Eric Ely, the great-grandson of the founder.
Exhibition Details and Schedule
“Musiques en Aix” is open to the public at the Hôtel de Boadès in Aix-en-Provence and runs through November 1, 2026. The exhibition provides a detailed look at how local photographers recorded the performances, venues, and audiences that shaped the region’s cultural identity over the decades.
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