“Shadows and symbolism,” by Paul du Quenoy.

“Shadows and symbolism,” by Paul du Quenoy.

Europe’s intense heat wave seared Aix-en-Provence as the ancient regional capital hosted its summer music festival this year. Mercifully, performances were shared between a variety of spaces that provided refuge from the heat, including the courtyard of the old archbishop’s palace, where they began late in the evening, and the Grand Théâtre de Provence, a modern, air-conditioned venue that opened in 2007. The former venue hosted performances of …