1995 : Christophe Baillet and Pierre Réach meet in Switzerland at a piano academy. The idea to create a high level academy and a festival, in Schrader et Raymond de Carbonières’s land, was born. To welcome in the heart of the Pyrenees Valley, high level and world wide known musicians. This was the bet!
In June 1997, for "la Fête de la Musique", the project is launched by a recital of Pierre Réach at the top of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre. An helicopter brings the instrument at the top of the mountain and Pierre Reach plays, at 2889 m high, facing an amazing view of the Néouvielle, Gavarnie...mountains.
How many great artists have come from all over the world for the admired public!
Among others: Gyorgy Sebök, Pierre Amoyal, Dmitri Bashkirov, Paul Badura Skoda, Peter Frankl, Boris Berman, Cyprien Katsaris, François-René Duchable sur la route du Tourmalet lors du passage du Tour de France, Anne Queffelec, Bruno Rigutto, Gary Hoffman, Bruno Giuranna, Alain Meunier, Michel Lethiec, Maurizio Baglini, Jean-Philippe Collard, Jean Claude Pennetier, Michaël Levinas, Vladimir Viardo, Michel Beroff, Akiko Ebi...
For Christophe Baillet and Pierre Réach, the idea of exchange is fundamental. The artists not only give their art beyond the traditional concert halls walls, but many of them also bring their knowledge, into Gyorgy Sebök academy.
We work together with the Orchestre des Pyrenees and its academy. Every year, in July, Bagnères de Bogorre welcomes two academies in the heart of Bigorre.
The concerts, in their majority, take place in cultural Pyrenees heritage, like: Palmarium de Bagnères, churches in Campan, Gerde, Baudéan and Escaladieu Abbey. The architectural and musical magic creates every year an unforgettable alchemy in all music lovers heart.