Echoes of Emotion – Khatia Buniatishvili in Gstaad
From the age of just three, French-Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvili was captivated by the piano – her mother, sensing the spark, placed new sheet music on the instrument each day, inviting her into a world of musical discovery. Today, Buniatishvili brings a rare depth of humanity, intellectual brilliance, and unmistakably personal interpretation to every piece she performs. On August 10, she returns to Gstaad, joined by composers who hold a special place in her heart: Schubert, Chopin and Liszt. Her programme is a journey through contrast and intensity – a deep dive into the piano’s dramatic soul. With Liszt, she summons resonances almost organ-like in their power; with Schubert, she paints intimate portraits of the soul; with Chopin, she evokes aching longing and emotional nuance. It will be an evening of extremes – of whispered introspection and soaring sonic ecstasy – brought to life by an artist who moves effortlessly between the two.
A Monument of Choral Majesty – Handel’s Israel in Egypt
No other oratorio places the chorus so boldly at centre stage. In place of virtuosic arias and heroic protagonists, Israel in Egypt tells its powerful story through sweeping, dramatic choral tableaux — a sonic epic of the Exodus. Thrilling and immersive, this masterpiece is tailor-made for the grand opening concerts on July 18 and 19. Let the summer of musical discovery begin! Under the direction of William Christie, with his world-renowned ensemble Les Arts Florissants and a cast of exceptional soloists, Handel emerges as a true master of musical imagery. Israel in Egypt is no ornate showcase — it’s a force of nature: an oratorio of staggering strength, stripped of vanity, rich in meaning. It speaks not of heroes, but of humanity. And its towering choral sound — both raw and radiant — brings the story to life in a way that feels as urgent today as it did centuries ago. A visionary, uncompromising opening to the 2025 Festival.
Artistic Director Christoph Müller’s Insider Tip
“Francesco Piemontesi plays Schubert and Liszt: Switzerland’s most celebrated pianist returns to the Gstaad Menuhin Festival. Piemontesi captivated audiences in 2019 with his revelatory interpretations of sonatas by Schubert. On August 15, he’s back with a programme built on breathtaking contrasts. Schubert’s Four Impromptus – delicate, poetic, and inward-looking – seem tailor-made for intimate salons and candlelit soirées. Full of spontaneity and emotional clarity, these gems balance instinct and intellect with effortless grace. Liszt’s monumental B Minor Sonata stretches the traditional proportions of the solo piano form to the extreme. In Piemontesi’s hands, this storm of sound will soar to the vaulted ceilings of the centuries-old Saanen Church. Architectural logic meets dramatically dazzling contrasts.”
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.
AN EXPERIENCE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
With our Discovery program, your entire family can enjoy the Festival throughout the summer. From exciting events for toddlers crawling on all fours to fun activities for children spending their holidays in the region, as well as events for young people who seek thrills by getting a behind-the-scenes look at our concerts ... discover our unique programs!
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.
