Carmen – Scandal, Masterpiece, Legend
Passion pulses through the music, the story is a simmering game of seduction, jealousy and betrayal. Georges Bizet’s masterpiece made history. Its electrifying melodies are as irresistible as its iconic heroine: Carmen – an untamed force of nature, a symbol of female independence. On August 23, we dedicate an entire evening to the genius behind the legend. With Bizet, every scene becomes a stroke of melodic and dramatic brilliance. The highlight? The radiant arias, brought to life by the French-Swiss mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti alongside the Les Musiciens du Louvre, transporting us to a place of pure passion: Seville – a city that has set the stage for dramatic destinies for centuries. A spectacle not to be missed: the grand duets between Carmen and Don José, as Marina Viotti and tenor Cyrille Dubois transform the Gstaad Festival Tent into a fiery realm of desire and obsession.
The Chorus AND The Power of Music
When Clément Mathieu arrives as the new teacher at a strict boys' boarding school, he is met with harsh discipline and despair. But instead of yielding to the rigid system of the headmaster, he chooses a different path: with compassion and music, he opens a whole new world for his students. On August 17, this inspiring cinematic story unfolds in breathtaking HD on a giant screen, while a live orchestra and the Boys Choir Lucerne bring Bruno Coulais’ unforgettable soundtrack to life. The moving music amplifies the powerful message of this beloved 2004 French drama: No matter one’s background, beliefs or past, every person deserves respect, care and a fair chance. This is how solidarity is born – and with it, the strength to achieve something truly extraordinary together.
Artistic Director Christoph Müller’s Insider Tip
“When the world’s most legendary string quartet – fresh from celebrating its 40th stage anniversary – joins forces with one of the most thrilling young pianists of our time on August 21 in the Saanen Church, musical sparks are guaranteed. How do life experience and youthful fire shape the sound of Brahms’ masterful Piano Quintet in F minor? Mao Fujita, winner of the Clara Haskil Competition, is at the dawn of a stellar international career, captivating audiences with his effortless, shimmering, yet deeply moving piano playing. Meanwhile, the Hagen Quartet has just announced that it will conclude its illustrious career in the summer of 2026 – making this concert not just a highlight, but also a farewell.The evening begins with Shostakovich’s Third String Quartet, a piece that, like no other, translates the dramatic history of 20th-century Russia and Europe into music – rich with emotion, tension and sheer intensity. A performance that promises to be both deeply moving and utterly electrifying!”
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Next summer, the biggest stars of today await us: Elīna Garanča and Jonathan Tetelman, under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda, will perform the spectacular Verdi Requiem with an ensemble from the Zurich Opera House. Another vocal highlight: Marina Viotti in a pure Bizet evening, accompanied by Marc Minkowski and his Musiciens du Louvre.
We are also looking forward to four enchanting evenings on the Eggli summit, all under the theme “Mountain Spirit”, featuring performances by Fazıl Say, Nemanja Radulović, The King’s Singers and soprano Beatrice Villiger, who will captivate the audience with her yodeling at the unique “Flying Lunch” event.
Humility – Transformation – Migration
During the 2025 Festival edition, we explore migration across four dimensions: “Origin”: Music rooted in one’s homeland; “Escape to Exile”: Music born from the experience of flight and exile; “Inner Emigration”: Music by composers living under oppressive political regimes or those who, whether by choice or necessity, turn inward to find a path to self-liberation; “Nostalgia”: A yearning for the homeland left behind, voluntarily or otherwise – capturing the deep ache of homesickness.
DANIEL HOPE TO TAKE OVER FROM CHRISTOPH MÜLLER IN FALL 2025
On November 1, 2025, Daniel Hope will assume the role as the Artistic Director of Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy. He will follow in the footsteps of Christoph Müller, who is stepping down after 24 years of outstanding leadership, concluding his tenure at the end of the 2025 Festival. Daniel Hope is one of the world’s most sought-after violinists and musical personalities, with a career spanning over 35 years. He will officially start his directorship with the 70th edition of the Festival in 2026, honouring its founder, Yehudi Menuhin (1916 – 1999).
Our Mission Menuhin
As part of the recently launched "Mission Menuhin“ initiative, Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy has embraced a profound commitment to sustainability. To achieve this goal, we have defined measures that contribute to gradually reducing our CO2 emissions and raising awareness among our audience, team, and partners about responsible resource management. Some of these measures have already been implemented, such as the concert series “Music for the Planet”. Many more will follow, both during and around the Festival. Would you like to join us on this journey? Visit “Mission Menuhin” to keep up to date about new measures, projects, and progress.
gstaad academy
It is with the idea of perpetuating its commitment to the next generation that Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy created the Gstaad Academy in 2008: a structure in its own right to support an increasingly rich academic offer. At the Gstaad Academy we offer the complete range of master courses addressed to young professionals, as well as all the courses which are aimed at amateur orchestra musicians of all ages.
YEHUDI MENUHIN
Lord Menuhin, the founder of the Gstaad classical music festival bearing his name, is still remembered as a world famous violin child prodigy, conductor and humanist. His remarkable humanity, his multi-faceted artistic gifts and his perpetual curiosity were the hallmarks of his creative endeavours. It was in 1957 that this honorary resident of Saanen founded the legendary festival in the Saanenland. The promotion of young talent was just as important to him as playing music amongst friends.
