Festivals & events
Festival Offenbach
- Type
- Music and wine festival
- Address
- Saint-Saphorin (Lavaux)
The Festival Offenbach was born in 2004 in Saint-Saphorin, on the impulse of the Chœur mixte de Rivaz – Saint-Saphorin, which has always loved to blend theatrical play and music. Having become a specialist of the “little master of the Champs-Élysées” through many operettas, the choir decided, thanks to a partnership with the winemakers of Vins de Saint-Saphorin, to devote a festival mixing music and wine to Offenbach. Triennial and free since 2007, it unfolds its burlesque, convivial programme in the lanes and cellars of the Lavaux village. It is now in its seventh edition.
Offenbach in Saint-Saphorin, music and wine in Lavaux
From a village choir to a festival
Under the direction of Christian Baur, the Chœur mixte de Rivaz – Saint-Saphorin had set out on a long journey through Offenbach’s repertoire: “La Périchole” (1994), “Madame l’Archiduc” (1996), “Le Voyage dans la Lune” (2001), “Barbe-Bleue” (2003) and many more. Having become specialists of the composer, conductor and choir decided to devote a festival to him.
Thanks to the partnership of the Vins de Saint-Saphorin winemakers, “Offenbach à Saint-Saphorin – Festival musique et vin” came to life in September 2004. Faced with the enthusiasm of this first edition, an association was created to sustain the event every three years; charging admission the first time, the festival became free from 2007, with growing popular success.
Dominique Tille and an open programme
After three editions, Christian Baur handed over to Dominique Tille, an actor, singer and conductor of several choirs in French-speaking Switzerland and abroad. Under his impulse the programme diversified while staying true to Offenbach’s burlesque, theatrical spirit: the 2013 edition (“Amour & Humour”) and then that of 2016 (“Music in Motion”) brought together conviviality, music and wine within the walls of Saint-Saphorin.
The sixth edition, planned for 2019 then pushed to 2020 because of the Fête des Vignerons, could finally only take place in 2022, after the postponement imposed by the pandemic. The festival now continues on its way, still at its three-year rhythm.