Chamonix Vallee
Classics Festival
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
I am really very excited to introduce the First Edition of the Chamonix Vallée Classics Festival, 30 July – 6 August 2024. What can be more perfect than the marriage of the beauty of the mountains of the Chamonix valley and the spirit of classical music performed by some of the great stars of the international stage and young talent?
This project was originally conceived together with the wonderfully energetic and passionate Bernard de Launoit, Executive President and CEO of the Queen Elizabeth Music Chapel (Chappelle de la Reine) in Waterloo, Belgium. With Bernard’s untimely death last year, the world of music lost a great talent and for so many of us, a very good friend too. I have missed him greatly in creating our inaugural festival although I have felt his encouragement at every step. I feel sure that he would have been thrilled to see this year’s programme and I would like to dedicate this inaugural festival to his memory.
Our aim is to strengthen Chamonix’s position as the 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. The festival is organised to appeal to people who live and work in the Chamonix valley, to those already holidaying in the mountains and those wishing to make a special trip. Everyone can be sure to be excited by both the music and all that Chamonix has to offer and its unique way of life. And all this at the foot of Mont Blanc.
In 2024, the concerts will be held at the beautiful Eglise St Michel, the Chamonix’s striking modern Ecole de Musique and the Espace Michel Croz 2. We are grateful to them for their encouragement and support of this year’s festival.
This year we have some of the great stars of the international stage participating in the Chamonix Vallée Classics: the Jerusalem Quartet, one of the leading string quartets in the world, has agreed to open the festival. The incomparable tenor, Ian Bostridge, is also joining us together with our very own Camerata du Mont Blanc and the greatly talented Kleio Quartet. The effervescent Trio Bohemo will close the festival.
We would encourage you all to put the dates in your diary and book tickets without delay. In particular, the Ecole de Musique is a smaller auditorium, and we anticipate tickets will sell out quickly for all the concerts.
We hope that the Chamonix Vallée Classics will become an important new fixture in the Chamonix valley exciting annual calendar. I am thrilled to announce that the Quatuor Ebene has agreed to play for us in 2025.
I hugely appreciate the wonderful financial support of our patrons, friends and brochure advertisers as well as our valued partners, Barnes, Patron Capital and À Chacun Son Everest. I am immensely grateful to you all for your generosity and your encouragement in the creation of the Chamonix Vallée Classics.
Last but by no means least, I am also extremely grateful to the extraordinary and tireless work of the whole organising committee in putting together this beautiful project.
Let the music begin!
David Joseph
Committee
David Joseph (President), Denise Joseph (Treasurer), Patricia Millett, Richard Millett, Jonathan Points, Natalie Points, Karine Breuil, Daisy Cattaneo, Olivier Rosenberg, Kelly Hail, Nathalie Albaladejo, Kate Butler, Pat Butler with thanks also to Valerie Davis
The symbiosis of mountain beauty and classical music
Making Chamonix the leading cultural resort in the Alps
Our aim is to strengthen Chamonix’s position as the 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.
The festival is organised to appeal to people who live and work in the Chamonix valley, to those already holidaying in the mountains and those wishing to make a special trip. Everyone can be sure to be excited by both the music and all that Chamonix has to offer in its boutiques, restaurants, hotels, and its unique way of life. And all this at the foot of Mont-Blanc. In 2024, the concerts will be held at the beautiful Eglise St Michel and Chamonix’s striking modern Ecole de Musique.
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”.