A word from our President, David Joseph
“Music is the universal language of mankind…. It is an art that touches the depth of human existence; an art of sounds that crosses all borders”
Daniel Barenboim
Following the exceptional success of the first and second editions of the Chamonix Vallée Classics Festival, I am thrilled to introduce the third edition 29 July – 5 August 2026.
As many of you know, this project was originally conceived together with the wonderfully energetic and passionate late Bernard de Launoit, Executive President and CEO of the Queen Elizabeth Music Chapel (Chappelle de la Reine) in Waterloo, Belgium. Our inaugural festival was dedicated to his memory. I am absolutely delighted that his widow, Vanessa, has become a patron of the festival.
We continue to aim to strengthen Chamonix’s position as a premier cultural destination in the Alps. The festival is focused on classical music but will also be linked to Chamonix’s rich history in all of the major forms of artistic expression and culture. We are grateful to local artist, skier, mountain guide, Lionel Wibault, for the use of his works for the festival images and also to Anne Friang, President of the Association Les Amis Gabriel Loppé and the artist’s great-great- granddaughter, for her support for the festival and the partnership with the Association.
This major cultural event will once again bring together internationally renowned artists to celebrate the richness and diversity of classical music in a truly unique atmosphere at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is the only festival of this calibre in the French Alps.
In 2026 Chamonix Vallée Classics will welcome the Paris-based Quatuor Modigliani, one of the foremost European string quartets together, playing Beethoven Op.18 No.6 and the extraordinarily emotional Schubert string quintet D956 with French cello prodigy Edgar Moreau. There is another opportunity to experience Edgar Moreau’s talent – on the following evening, he will play a selection of Bach cello suites. We are also delighted to be able to have the brilliant Quatuor Danel perform a programme of Shostakovich for us in the church, another first for the Festival. We will also have the privilege of welcoming for the first time to Chamonix, the French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet known for his acclaimed, award-winning recordings and performances of Ravel’s complete solo piano works. We are thrilled to welcome back the pianist Boris Giltburg widely recognised as a leading interpreter of Rachmaninov playing a concert of Rachmaninov, Liszt and Ravel as well as Vadym Kholodenko, Alena Baeva, Kyril Zlotnikov together with Mathieu Herzog for a programme of Mozart, Schumann and Brahms piano quartets. Axelle Fanyo will perform once again with Kunal Lahiry a participatory programme to close the festival.
The concerts will be held once again at the beautiful Eglise St Michel and the Espace Michel Croz 2 (EMC2) for the concerts with piano. We continue to be grateful to both for their continued encouragement for and engagement with this year’s festival. We very much appreciate also the financial and non-financial support of Mairie and the Chamonix valley community for the third edition of the Chamonix Vallée Classics Festival.
We are of course hugely thankful for the wonderful financial support of our patrons, friends and brochure advertisers including our principal sponsor, Barnes, and value our social partnership with A Chacun Son Everest. I am immensely grateful to you all for your generosity and your encouragement in the creation of the Chamonix Vallée Classics as an annual festival.
As ever I recognise the extraordinary and tireless year-round work of the whole organising committee in putting together this third edition. Thank you for all your efforts.
We look forward to welcoming all to the third edition of the Chamonix Vallée Classics Festival.
Let the music begin!
David Joseph, President
Organisation Committee
David Joseph (President), Denise Joseph (Treasurer), Francesco Bartoletti, Debbie Beckerman, Anne Grafe-Buckens, Marion Colombani, Philippe Dirmikis, Siobán Healy, Natalie Points, Jonathan Points, Roger Press, Alexandra Richardson, Olivier Rosenberg, Laura Blake Vouilloz, Emma Wibault.
With thanks to Alison Davies.
Chamonix Vallée Classics supports the association À chacun son Everest !
Since 1994, A Chacun Son Everest! has been helping children with cancer or leukaemia and, since 2011, women in remission from breast cancer to “heal better” by climbing “their Everest”.