Annecy Classic Festival

A classical festival by Lake Annecy

Created in 2012, the Annecy Classic Festival quickly established itself in the French classical music festival scene. Conceived by the City of Annecy and founders Marianne Gaussiat, Anne-Judith Wiener, and Jean-Marie Guilloux, this summer festival offered an ambitious program combining opera, symphonic music, sacred music, and chamber music.

Exceptional heritage venues

The originality of the Annecy Classic Festival lay in its choice of concert venues. The festival took over the most beautiful heritage sites in Annecy – the Basilique de la Visitation, the historic churches in the city center, the Bonlieu Scène nationale hall – offering spectators a unique musical experience in remarkable architectural settings, with Lake Annecy and the surrounding mountains as a backdrop.

Internationally renowned artists

Over its five editions, the festival hosted internationally renowned soloists and ensembles. Young virtuosos mingled with established artists in a spirit of transmission and sharing, with programs ranging from the baroque repertoire to contemporary creations. The festival was particularly noted for the quality of its interpretations of the Slavic soul and Russian repertoire, thanks to the support of a patron of Russian origin.

An interruption and a rebirth

In 2016, the festival had to cancel its edition due to financial difficulties related to the loss of support from its main patron. The mayor of Annecy, Jean-Luc Rigaut, had then expressed his desire to maintain a classical music event in the city. This ambition materialized in 2017 with the creation of the Variations Classiques festival, which took over the mantle of classical music in Annecy in a renewed format, more focused on artistic carte blanche.