Nestled in the winter wonderland of Vers-l'Église, Just a few minutes from Les Diablerets, the village church once again resounded to the notes of chamber music. For two months, the 57th season of the Festival Musique & Neige offered music lovers and the curious a series of exceptional concerts, featuring both renowned artists and up-and-coming talents.
Between the festive New Year's Day and the seven Saturday evening musical evenings, the public was able to discover a wide panorama of the chamber music repertoire. A particularly successful edition: five out of eight concerts sold out, The success of this year's festival is testament to the public's unflagging enthusiasm for this not-to-be-missed winter music event in Les Diablerets.
🎻 A musical rendez-vous rooted in the valley since 1970
Created in 1970, Festival Musique & Neige is the brainchild of Sir Peter Ustinov, British actor, director and writer, then a resident of the Vallée des Ormonts. For over fifty years, the festival has pursued the same ambition: to offer high-quality concerts in a warm and friendly atmosphere, at affordable prices.
Each season traditionally begins on January 1st at the Maison des Congrès, Les Diablerets, before moving on to Vers-l'Église Temple, a charming, intimate setting.
Every Saturday at 18h15, In a musical interlude, audiences enjoy recitals, sonatas, trios and quartets, exploring both classical and contemporary repertoires. At the end of the concerts, audience members and artists gather for a convivial moment with wine and hot tea, a festival tradition. Mulled wine is prepared by l'Auberge de l'Ours, located just a few steps from the temple.
🎶 A rich program of big names and new discoveries
For this 57th season, artistic director Gilles Champoud has come up with a program combining established artists and new personalities on the music scene.
Among the edition's highlights:
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the arrival of pianist Lukas Geniušas,
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the Romain Leleu Sextet,
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and several chamber music ensembles exploring a vast repertoire.
The programs featured a dialogue between the great figures of classical music, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann or even Frédéric Chopin, in sensitive, inspired interpretations.
The season opened in a festive atmosphere with One Step Gospel, before concluding with a much-anticipated concert by Quatuor Ébène, who spent nearly two hours performing works by Beethoven to enthusiastic applause from the audience.
📻 A concert recorded by RTS
As every year, the festival also welcomed Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), who came to record one of the season's concerts.
This musical moment will be broadcast on Space 2the Saturday May 17 at 5 p.m., allowing the public to extending the musical experience far beyond the Diablerets mountains.
🎼 Passing on music to the very young
The festival also attaches great importance to musical discovery for children.
Each season, before one of the concerts, the artists welcome the youngest in the temple at 4pm for a special concert. musical entertainment lasting about thirty minutes. Children can discover the instruments, talk to the musicians and ask any questions they may have.
For this edition, the lyric singers of the Trio Saveurs who shared their vocal universe with the young participants. The meeting always ends with a snack offered, in a friendly, family atmosphere.
✨ A successful season already looking to the future
Despite this winter's sometimes capricious, sometimes sunny weather, this 57th season is one to remember. a real success. Sa quality programming, his visitors and the collaboration with local partners once again attest to the importance of the’public attachment to this unique event. The Committee is delighted with this new edition in style, and the sixtieth anniversary of the festival looks set to be an auspicious one for 2029. In the meantime, we'll have to wait until the’fall to discover the 58th season program, which will take place in early 2027.
Photos © Yoann Huck & Camille Hue
