Antibes has many great things in its favour: the climate, the old town, the Fort Carré, and the Cap. And on the Cap is a real jewel, the Villa Eilenroc. This is a beautiful setting for a Summer concert in the open air. The Musiques au Coeur series is an annual event that takes place here. It is put together with the skills of national radio personality Eve Ruggiéri. Tonight she gave us one her most inventive concerts, with a series of pieces for Soprano, Piano, and Violin, all linked by the story she told of the life of a star.

Forced into stardom from an early age by a hard-hearted father, failed marriage, huge star with many famous friends, does concerts for charity, dies an early death, outpouring of grief from fellow artists - it sounds like a summary of Michael Jackson's career. Yet these are the highlights of Maria Malibran's life, a woman who died two hundred years ago. This concert was a superb opportunity to learn more about this woman and to enjoy some of the music she sang to such success that even now she remains famous.

The soprano was Anna Kasyan, a rising Georgian star. "I wanted to do this concert because I am so fascinated by Malibran", she says. " Thanks to her; women gained far more respect on the opera stage. She did not live very long (she died at 28 years old because of injuries sustained in a riding accident) but she did so many things. She travelled a lot - to Italy, England, America - and she sang right up to her death. After her accident she went on stage the same evening."

Kasyan has a great stage presence, and sings with much energy. She's a diva who believes in acting the part as she sings. Her version of "Batti, Batti", from Don Giovanni, was quite outstandingly expressive. She has a beautiful voice, and at 27 is still focussed on Rossini and Mozart. But it won't be long before we are hearing of her in other, even more demanding roles. Hers is definitely a name to look out for.

On the piano was David Abramovitz, and his solo versions of Rossini Overtures and Chopin Nocturnes were really well performed. He plays with precision and panache. He can accompany discreetly when needed, or he can dominate the stage, as he did with the desperately sad Chopin piece.

On the violin was Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian (above), a violinist not afraid to tackle the technically difficult Paginini. He got very strong applause for his soaring "Fantasie on Carmen".

The Musiques au Coeur series has been a regular on the Cap d'Antibes for several years, having previously been at the Chantier Naval. Because it is in the open air, it needs microphones and loudspeakers, with all the problems of balance and reproduction that they bring. Eve Ruggieri (below with tenor Roberto Alagna) is setting her hopes on the project to have a concert hall in Antibes in 2012. Until then, we can tolerate the microphones in exchange for the beauty of Eilenroc.

The 21st Festival of Musiques au Coeur closes tonight (Friday 11th) with Verdi's Requiem at the Villa Eilenroc, Cap d'Antibes.