Victor Hugo Music Festival

Guernsey’s unique and charming character, drawn from the French and English influences that shape this Channel Island, provides the backdrop to the Victor Hugo International Music Festival to be held 23 – 30 September 2006. The festival takes the name of its best known resident of all time for it was in Guernsey that Victor Hugo found respite from his political foes for 15 years.

Highlights of the classical programme include world-class musicians such as the mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink giving the Hugo Recital in which specially commissioned songs based on Hugo’s poetry are presented, the St Petersburg Quartet playing Shostakovich in his centenary year and the first concert appearance in the British Isles of Lise de la Salle, the extraordinarily gifted young French pianist. But the opening concert will have violinist Thomas Zehetmair and violist Ruth Kilius performing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with the Northern Sinfonia.

Our folk festival offers magical nights of Irish, French and English music and you will thrill at the sounds of Irish harpist Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman, Coope, Boyes & Simpson, Stocai and Marinade.

Look out for special offers on tickets when booking.

How to get to Guernsey
Follow our links to all major carriers or for a complete package follow the link to CI Travel. Jazz fans should note that the Guernsey Jazz Festival is held from 29 September to 1 October – see 'Programme of Events' for details.

The organisers of the Victor Hugo International Music Festival are delighted to acknowledge grant aid from Culture Guernsey and sponsorship from Bank Julius Baer and all other sponsors.

‘Little pieces of France cast into the sea and picked up by England.’
Victor Hugo on the Channel Islands

‘If you are jaded with the mainstream music festivals, this is one well worth trying.’
Financial Times, 13 October 2004

Lise De La Salle
more artists >

Bank Julius Baer in its role as principal sponsor, is once again delighted to be associated with what will be the 3rd Victor Hugo International Music Festival. Through its worldwide network, the Julius Baer Group actively supports the Arts in all its forms and the Guernsey Branch of Bank Julius Baer is only too pleased to play its part in bringing such an array of talent to perform for the Island of Guernsey.

Paul Mathews

Principal Sponsor of the
Victor Hugo Music Festival