A word from our President Gérard Bagnoud
Dear music lovers
May classical music light up your hearts! It is a gift from all times and all places.
This characteristic reinforces my belief that beautiful music has the ability to bring people together and create unity through a universal language. This sentiment has motivated Crans-Montana Classics for more than 12 years to promote this art form on the Haut-Plateau.
I invite you to discover the CMClassics winter concerts. Let yourself be transported to horizons of hope.
On behalf of all those who have contributed to making this musical season a reality, I wish you moments of pure delight.
My warmest thanks to our patrons, sponsors and friends for their loyalty and generosity, so much appreciated.
See you all soon
Yours sincerely
Gérard Bagnoud
A word from our musical Director Michael Guttman
Welcome to the rich and diversified world of the Crans-Montana Classics Winter Concerts!
The growing success of previous editions confirms our conviction that a musical programme equal to the greatest international stages finds a loyal and enthusiastic audience in Crans-Montana.
To celebrate the start of the New Year in style, on 1 January 2024, the ” Scala de Milan ” concert will give you the opportunity to enjoy the rich, deep tones of Gautier Capuçon’s cello in Dvořák’s famous Romantic concerto, a virtuoso work inspired by the themes and rhythms of his native Bohemia. Under the direction of the brilliant conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy, you can also enjoy a rare performance of Brahms’s 5th Symphony, adapted for orchestra from his Quartet No. 1 for piano and strings, before being swept away by the long-awaited Viennese waltzes.
Continuing the lively tradition of the January 2 concerts, we warmly invite you to the multimedia family show, headlined by Poulenc’s famous Babar, to the delight of young and old alike.
In February, on the 10th, we’ll be delighted to present a concert conducted by the renowned French pianist Frank Braley, winner of the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition, accompanied by his students from the famous Brussels chapel of the same name. An evening dedicated to the memory of Bernard de Launoit, their tireless director and great mountaineer, who passed away far too soon.
On the 17th, let yourself be enchanted by a concert dedicated to the captivating work of Eugene Ysaÿe, the last of the great violinists/composers, carried by the passionate bow of Marc Bouchkov.
On the 24th, don’t miss the 2nd edition of February’s flagship concerts, featuring on the Haut Plateau the celebrated Joshua Bell, a global star whose musical integrity defies comparison, above and beyond his aura as an adored musician.
Finally, join us for a programme dedicated to Baroque music, presented by the fascinating cellist Ophélie Gaillard, the magnificent soprano Sandrine Piau, and the Pulcinella ensemble, made up of talented young musicians playing Baroque instruments. Plunge into the intoxicating world of tarantellas and other Neapolitan ‘folia’.
To round off this musical season in style, the Ensemble vocal Shama will be bringing the joy of Easter to life in the warm setting of the church of St-Maurice de Laques in Mollens for the traditional Easter Concert.
We wish you a year 2024 full of happy musical surprises and much more!
Michael Guttman
Musical Director