After 24 years leading the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Artistic Director Christoph Müller concluded his tenure this summer with a record-breaking season. His successor, internationally acclaimed violinist Daniel Hope, made his debut at the closing concert – not only as performer but as incoming artistic director, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the festival.

Full circle
“Tonight the circle closes,” said Hope as he welcomed the audience in the church of Saanen. As a boy, he had attended his first concerts there; now, almost fifty years later, he takes over leadership of the festival founded by Yehudi Menuhin.

Hope’s inaugural programme was an invitation into his musical world: borderless, surprising, and deeply rooted in the spirit of Menuhin. Dispensing with the traditional concert format, he personally guided the audience through a journey that moved seamlessly from Bach to Chick Corea, from flamenco to Irish song. “Crossover in style, across borders and mentalities,” he explained – a concept that Menuhin himself would surely have embraced.

Music without boundaries
On stage, Hope was joined by four outstanding collaborators: jazz guitarist Joscho Stephan, bassist Stéphane Logerot, pianist Jacques Ammon, and Argentine bandoneon virtuoso Omar Massa. Together they wove an evening of musical encounters – Bach flowing into Ukrainian folk melodies, Bartók into Romanian dances, and flamenco paired with Corea’s famous Spain.

The concert built to an emotional climax when Hope transitioned from a pure Bach solo into the Irish ballad Danny Boy, with Ammon at the piano – a tribute both to Hope’s roots and his conviction that music is a universal language of peace. The audience listened in rapt silence before erupting into thunderous applause.

A gift to Christoph Müller
In a touching gesture, Hope invited Christoph Müller on stage to perform for the very first time at the festival he had directed for nearly a quarter-century. Together with the ensemble, Müller – a cellist by training – premiered Tango Legacy, a piece specially composed by Omar Massa for the occasion. The audience’s standing ovation celebrated both men: Müller for his extraordinary stewardship, and Hope for the promise of renewal.

Christoph Müller – closing an era
During his tenure, Müller nearly doubled visitor numbers, reaching an all-time record of 27,800 attendees this summer. He expanded the festival’s formats, nurtured young talent, and attracted world stars such as Khatia Buniatishvili early in their careers. The Gstaad Conducting Academy, launched under his watch, has since earned international acclaim.
Müller himself deflected praise, thanking his team, the musicians, the public, and the many patrons and sponsors whose support had made the festival’s growth possible. “I designed the product,” he said, “but it takes a good team to bring it to life.”

Looking ahead: The Hope Chapter
The coming season will mark the 70th anniversary of the festival – a symbolic year of both reflection and renewal. Hope has promised to share his concrete artistic vision in December, but already hinted at an approach that blends tradition with new perspectives.

“After nearly a quarter of a century under Christoph Müller’s dedicated leadership, it is an honour to lead the festival into a new chapter,” he said. “This anniversary is not only a moment to look back, but above all to move forward.”

Daniel Hope – almost a local
Hope’s connection to Gstaad goes back decades. His mother, Eleanor Hope, was Yehudi Menuhin’s manager from 1980 - 1996 and also headed the festival. Every summer, the family lived at Menuhin’s chalet in Gstaad, where young Daniel absorbed the atmosphere of rehearsals and concerts. He made his official festival debut here in 1992, and in the years that followed, performed more than 60 concerts with Menuhin himself.

“Gstaad is part of my musical DNA,” Hope has said. “Music and the Bernese Oberland – for me, it is the perfect symbiosis.”

Record-Breaking Season at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival
Over the course of seven weeks, the Gstaad Menuhin Festival welcomed 27,800 visitors, setting a new all-time record. Audiences gathered not only in the iconic festival tent and the historic churches of the region, but also on the Eggli mountain, where the Mountain Spirit series offered four concerts ranging from classical performances to electro beats.

In total, more than 60 concerts were staged. Together with the five masterclasses of the Gstaad Academy, some 1,200 musicians were involved. A lively programme of around 30 additional events brought music closer to children, families, and amateur performers.

“The loyalty of our audience gives the festival its special family atmosphere,” said Richard Müller, the newly elected president of the Festival Board. He added that this spirit remains true to the vision of Yehudi Menuhin, who founded the festival in 1957 out of his love for the Saanenland and the joy of making music with friends.

Looking ahead, the festival is preparing to celebrate its 70th anniversary next summer — a milestone that promises both reflection and renewal.

Based on AvS