Menuhin Festival Gstaad

The Menuhin Festival Gstaad is a music festival founded by the great violinist Yehudi Menuhin held every summer since 1957 in the Swiss alpine town of Gstaad.

After the Menuhin family had settled in Gstaad in 1957 (which was the year of the first Menuhin Festival Gstaad), Menuhin's children were able to receive an education of the highest international standard. Menuhin was raised in New York City, so he appreciated the Swiss landscapes and started the festival with the aim of bringing other musicians to Gstaad.

It now consists of more than 50 concerts over a period of seven weeks, with a vast array of famous soloists and ensembles alike.

In 2012, it was held between Friday, 20 July and 8 September. Although Gstaad is the main focus of activities, many events take place in other venues in the Bernese Oberland. In 2012, the first concert was a recital by British violinist Julia Fischer in the church at Saanen. Other prominent soloists include pianist András Schiff, soprano Cecilia Bartoli, and cellist Sol Gabetta.