SOL GABETTA: A LEGACY IN GSTAAD
In 2004, the Argentinian-born, Swiss-based cello star made her debut at Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy — and for over two decades now, Sol Gabetta’s golden tone has been casting its spell over the breathtaking Gstaad scenery. This summer, on August 29, she returns to the stage alongside the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and maestro Paavo Järvi, diving deep into the raw emotional world of late Shostakovich — with razor-sharp precision and rhythmic brilliance. More uncompromising, more intense than ever before! Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 2 stands as a towering monument of profound emotion — and under Sol Gabetta’s shimmering artistry, it promises to be nothing short of electrifying.
Verdi’s Requiem – Between Life and the Unknown
A single, powerful thread runs through Verdi’s Messa da Requiem: a deeply human portrait of the individual struggling against an overwhelming, often merciless society. Verdi’s Requiem is not a vision of paradise — it is a mirror held up to us. To those who live, love, suffer — and wonder what remains after the final curtain falls. On August 30, the Gstaad Festival Tent will shake with this drama, as Eleonora Buratto, Elina Garanča, Joseph Calleja and Roberto Tagliavini, joined by the chorus and orchestra of the Zurich Opera House under Gianandrea Noseda, bring Verdi’s monumental work to life — thunderous, soul-stirring, unforgettable.
Artistic Director Christoph Müller’s Insider Tip
“With his ensemble “Between Worlds”, mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital sets out on August 5 to cross borders — musically and emotionally. He forges connections, creating encounters between cultures while building bridges between audience, musicians and the musical roots they share. In “Mediterraneo”, the sounds of Naples — the birthplace of the mandolin — intertwine with the vibrant, tarantella-driven rhythms of Apulia and melodies from across the southern Mediterranean. Authentically voiced by singer Alessia Tondo and accompanied by Luca Tarantino, this evening promises a musical journey straight into the heart of southern Italy. Let yourself be carried away!”
Between Longing and Loss:
The Sound of Exile
Exile means losing one’s home, one’s bearings – but never one’s memories.
It is an experience marked by pain and yearning, by nostalgia and the search for belonging.
Two remarkable concert series give voice to these emotions, showing how displacement can become a wellspring of artistic creation.
Living Tradition –
“Menuhin’s Heritage Artists”
Yehudi Menuhin held nothing closer to his heart than passing down his experiences to the next generation and creating friendships through shared love for chamber music. The concert series featuring our “Menuhin’s Heritage Artists” embodies the essence of this loyal connection. Over five years, we extend a kind of “promise of trust” to young talents, allowing them to showcase themselves in carte blanche concerts each summer.
the Gstaad Concert Hall
The Vision for the Gstaad Concert Hall Gains Momentum and Public Support.
A world-class concert hall with 1,200 seats – designed with state-of-the-art acoustics and modern architecture – is set to replace the current Gstaad Festival Tent and reinforce Gstaad’s position as a cultural hotspot.
Closely linked to this vision is a new multi-purpose venue that will host sports and events all year round. A major milestone on the path to realisation came on April 4, 2025, when residents of the Saanen municipality overwhelmingly approved funding for the planning phase of the sports and event hall. A clear message: the community stands behind the project and its ambitious goals.
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.
