In the rare constellation of classical musicians who transcend the stage to become true cultural figures, Estelle Revaz shines with singular brilliance. Born in Switzerland and now recognised across continents, Revaz is not only an exceptional cellist whose sound carries both rigour and radiance, but also a committed public servant advocating for the arts and social equity. Whether performing at the Victoria Hall in Geneva or addressing Parliament in Bern, Estelle Revaz inhabits her dual vocation with the same clarity of purpose and intensity of presence.
Her artistry speaks of heritage and vision. Trained in Paris under Jérôme Pernoo and in Cologne with Maria Kliegel, Estelle Revaz developed a language of sound both technically uncompromising and emotionally generous. “The cello sings magnificently,” La Liberté once wrote, capturing the voice-like quality of her instrument, a Grancino from 1679, which she commands with natural authority. For Revaz, music is not performance alone, but communication, a thread of meaning spun between the composer, the interpreter and the world.
Among the composers she reveres most is Johann Sebastian Bach, whose work she calls “the alpha and the omega of musical truth.” In the spirit of Bach, who once said, “Music is an agreeable harmony for the honour of God and the permissible delights of the soul”, Estelle Revaz approaches each note with reverence and humanity.
To encounter Estelle Revaz is to meet an artist of rare commitment and conviction, a woman who plays not only the cello, but the chords of society itself.
Estelle Revaz: An Inspired Life Rooted in Culture and Conviction
Estelle Revaz was born on 12 July 1989 in Salvan, a village in the Swiss canton of Valais. Raised in a culturally vibrant household, she was immersed early in the arts. Her mother, Jeannine Revaz, is a singer of Austrian heritage, while her father, Jean-Charles Revaz, is a respected scholar of classical literature. These influences nurtured a curiosity for music that would soon become her life’s calling.
After beginning cello lessons at the Conservatory of Sierre, Estelle Revaz moved with her family to Paris in 1999 to pursue formal studies. She was accepted into the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where she trained under Jérôme Pernoo. She later refined her skills at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln under the guidance of Maria Kliegel. This Franco-German education laid the foundation for a European career marked by excellence, discipline and artistic openness.
Throughout her formation, Estelle Revaz received numerous accolades. At fifteen, she won the First Prize of the Fondazione Antonio Salieri di Legnago, allowing her to embark on her first European solo tour. Further recognition came from the City of Geneva, the Canton of Valais, and major foundations such as Leenaards, Little Dreams, Dénéréaz and Patiño. In 2014, she was selected to join the Verbier Festival Academy and received the Rotary Prize, confirming her arrival among the most promising cellists of her generation.
The Cellist with a Mission
Estelle Revaz is not simply a performer. She is an artist driven by meaning and a commitment to communicate. Her recordings have garnered critical praise for their intelligence, depth and technical finesse. Her 2015 album Cantique presented Bloch’s Schelomo and the world premiere of Pflüger’s Pitture. Le Temps praised it as “serious, incisive and demanding,” while Bach & Friends, released in 2017, revealed her clarity of phrasing and tonal purity. Pizzicato hailed her interpretations for their “perfectly pure sound, unambiguous phrasing and exceptionally refined dynamics.” With Fugato, recorded with Anaïs Crestin, Le Courrier described her as “one of the rising stars of a new generation of great artists.”
Since 2017, Estelle Revaz has taught cello and chamber music at the Kalaidos University of Music in Zurich. She gives masterclasses across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. In parallel, she engages in academic work and published a study in 2019 on the development of artistic identity in higher instrumental education.
She performs on a cello built in 1679 by Giovanni Grancino and uses a bow made in 1825 by Joseph Eury, both entrusted to her by Swiss patrons. These instruments, like her sound, blend history with presence and emotion.
The Parliamentarian of Culture
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Estelle Revaz found herself at the heart of a national discussion on the precarity of cultural workers. Seeing the sector overlooked in federal emergency plans, she became a determined advocate. She was instrumental in securing temporary compensation for over 300,000 artists and technicians.
In October 2023, she was elected to the National Council as a member of the Social Democratic Party representing the Canton of Geneva. She took office in December 2023 and has already made her mark. In summer 2024, she successfully passed amendments to improve social insurance for cultural workers. In autumn 2024, her first personal motion on developing a national strategy to combat poverty was adopted.
Estelle Revaz is a member of the Science, Education and Culture Commission and continues to argue for better structural support for culture. In June 2025, she was unanimously elected President of Suisseculture, the national umbrella body for artistic and creative professions. She is the first person from French-speaking Switzerland to hold this position and will officially begin in October 2025.
From the concert hall to the Federal Palace, Estelle Revaz exemplifies a rare integration of artistry and civic responsibility. Her story is that of a woman who not only plays music but shapes society through her art, intellect and unwavering dedication.
The Artistic Voice of Estelle Revaz
Estelle Revaz is more than a celebrated performer. She is a thoughtful interpreter of music whose playing balances intellectual precision with lyrical beauty. Her artistic voice has grown from a European formation into a global presence, resonating from the stages of the Victoria Hall in Geneva to the Oriental Art Centre in Shanghai and the CCK in Buenos Aires. She has performed in over thirty countries across four continents and collaborated with some of the finest musicians of her generation.
From the beginning of her career, Estelle Revaz has demonstrated a rare ability to cross the boundaries of repertoire, geography and artistic format. Her playing is rooted in tradition but boldly modern, continually refined and emotionally articulate. As a soloist, in chamber music or orchestral contexts, she communicates with a clarity of phrasing and warmth of tone that captivates critics and audiences alike.
Style and Musical Influences
The cello of Estelle Revaz is her voice, and she speaks with it in a language that bridges centuries. Critics have long commented on the sense of structure and transparency in her interpretations. Whether navigating the introspective intricacies of Johann Sebastian Bach or exploring the rhythmical drive of contemporary works, Estelle Revaz brings depth, elegance and intention.
She has often described her work as a dialogue between tradition and invention. The programme Bach & Friends, for example, aimed to build a musical bridge between baroque and contemporary writing. “It is not only about honouring the past,” she once explained in an interview, “but about showing how the spirit of Bach lives in the music of today.” She has never been content with playing repertoire safely. Her approach has always been to expand the expressive vocabulary of the cello while remaining loyal to the music’s inner truth.
Her influences are as varied as the artists she has shared the stage with. Estelle Revaz has collaborated with figures such as Gautier and Renaud Capuçon, Alexandra Conunova, Lena Neudauer, Raphaëlle Moreau, Sergey Ostrovsky, Finghin Collins and the Quatuor Sine Nomine. This range of musical dialogue has undoubtedly shaped her artistic voice, encouraging curiosity, risk-taking and stylistic flexibility.
The Cello and Bow
Estelle Revaz plays a rare and historically significant instrument built by Giovanni Grancino in 1679. The Grancino family, active in Milan during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, are known for creating instruments with deep resonance and rich overtones. Her cello is a work of art in itself, preserved and enhanced through centuries, and entrusted to her by a generous Swiss patron. The instrument’s warmth and responsiveness suit the expressive intensity of her playing, from intimate solo works to concertos with orchestra.
Her bow is equally exceptional. Crafted in 1825 by Joseph Eury, one of the finest French archetiers of his time, it offers both flexibility and precision. Eury’s bows are prized for their subtle balance and responsiveness, characteristics that allow Estelle Revaz to explore a full spectrum of tone colours and articulation. The combination of this historic instrument and bow provides her with the tools to project the full range of her artistry, from fierce energy to poetic intimacy.
A Distinctive and Evolving Discography
The recording journey of Estelle Revaz reflects her musical intelligence and willingness to explore new paths. Her debut album, Cantique (2015), released on NEOS, presented a bold combination of Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo and the world premiere of Andreas Pflüger’s Pitture. Critics praised the album for its emotional depth and interpretative clarity. Le Temps wrote of a “beautiful musical symbiosis” between orchestra and soloist.
In 2017, she released Bach & Friends with Solo Musica, dedicated to solo cello works from different eras. The album positioned Bach as a central figure in a conversation with contemporary composers. Pizzicato described it as “a demanding programme interpreted at a very high technical level.”
Later that year, she recorded Fugato, a duo album with pianist Anaïs Crestin, in which the two artists explored the idea of fugue and counterpoint across styles and centuries. The press described the album as both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. Le Courrier called her “one of the rising stars of a new generation of great artists.” Her 2021 recording Journey to Geneva, dedicated to the concertos of Frank Martin and a creation by Xavier Dayer, was awarded five Diapasons and five Classica stars.
In 2022, Inspiration Populaire marked her fifth album, once again in duo with Anaïs Crestin. The project explored popular musical idioms as refracted through the prism of classical language, reinforcing her position as a versatile and inventive artist.
Highlights and Milestones as a Cellist
Estelle Revaz has been an artist in residence with the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève from 2017 to 2020, under the direction of Arie van Beek. This residency allowed her to explore a vast repertoire, from C. P. E. Bach to Ligeti and Gulda, and to deepen her relationship with Swiss audiences. She has been a featured soloist with the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, the Sinfonieorchester Basel, the Orchestre National de Metz and many others.
Her festival appearances include not only the Verbier Festival, where she was selected for the Academy in 2014, but also the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, the Festival Pablo Casals, the Sion Festival and the Festival International de Colmar. Each of these appearances has strengthened her standing as a musician of both national and international relevance.
In addition to her performing career, Estelle Revaz is an eloquent communicator. She co-produced a five-part radio programme for RTS called Estelle et le violoncelle, sharing her passion for the cello with a broad audience through storytelling, musical analysis and personal reflections.
Through each of these achievements, Estelle Revaz affirms her identity as an artist who listens deeply to the music and the world around her. Her cello is not only an instrument but a vehicle for expression, reflection and connection.
Estelle Revaz and the Verbier Festival: A Musical Partnership Rooted in Excellence
The Verbier Festival holds a special place in the artistic journey of Estelle Revaz. As one of the most celebrated classical music festivals in the world, Verbier has long served as a platform for the brightest talents of each generation. For Estelle Revaz, it has been both a formative experience and a recognition stage. Her relationship with the festival reflects the dual nature of her career as both a rising soloist and a fully established artist with international stature.
This year, her return to Verbier is marked by a deeply symbolic and highly prestigious appearance. On 16 July 2025, Estelle Revaz will perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Verbier Festival’s 2025 edition. This event, which launches the 32nd edition of the festival, is not only a musical celebration but also a cultural statement. For an artist who once entered Verbier as an Academy student, returning to inaugurate the festival is a moment rich in artistic and personal significance.
From Academy to Acclaim
The story between Estelle Revaz and the Verbier Festival began in 2014 when she was selected to join the prestigious Verbier Festival Academy. This intensive training programme is reserved for exceptional young musicians and offers direct engagement with masters of the craft. During her time at the Academy, Estelle Revaz was awarded the Rotary Prize, an honour given to the most promising talents among the participants.
This early recognition was more than symbolic. It positioned Estelle Revaz within an elite circle of artists committed to both musical integrity and artistic exploration. Her time at the Academy also allowed her to develop lasting musical relationships and to deepen her repertoire in chamber music, which remains a central aspect of her artistic life. Even after leaving the Academy, her ties to Verbier continued to influence her creative vision and her role in the broader classical music world.
The festival environment, which encourages collaboration and cross-generational dialogue, resonates deeply with Estelle Revaz’s values. Throughout her career, she has championed the idea that musical growth emerges from shared experience. Her later collaborations with many Verbier-associated artists, including Gautier Capuçon, Raphaëlle Moreau and Finghin Collins, echo the spirit of connection fostered at the Academy.
The 2025 Opening Ceremony
Returning to the Verbier Festival in 2025, Estelle Revaz joins the Opening Ceremony as a key soloist in a programme designed to celebrate both tradition and renewal. Held at the Salle des Combins on 16 July at 19h00, the concert brings together some of the most brilliant Swiss musicians of the moment, in a collective tribute to the enduring power of music. Estelle Revaz will perform alongside internationally recognised names such as Chiara Enderle, Camille and Julie Berthollet, Louis Schwizgebel, Sebastian Bohren and Fabian Ziegler.
This opening night is curated not as a typical gala but as a true artistic declaration. The evening is designed to represent the spirit of Swiss excellence and the versatility of its musicians. The inclusion of Estelle Revaz in this selection underscores her position as one of the leading cultural figures of her country. Her presence on this stage is also deeply symbolic. It bridges her roots as a laureate of the Academy with her current standing as a mature artist, educator and public advocate for the arts.
Beyond the prestige of the occasion, this performance reflects Estelle Revaz’s long-standing connection to Swiss audiences and her dedication to presenting music that speaks to the collective experience. The Verbier Festival, with its mountainous setting and international reach, mirrors her artistic ethos: rooted in place yet open to the world.
In a career defined by purpose and passion, this moment at the Verbier Festival is both a return and a renewal. It is a celebration of the path she has walked and a sign of the path still ahead. Estelle Revaz is not only a cellist. She is a cultural voice of her time, and at Verbier, that voice will once again be heard with strength and grace.
Final words
To trace the arc of Estelle Revaz’s journey is to witness a life shaped by discipline, conviction and artistry. Her music is not an escape from the world, but a response to it. With every phrase she plays, she draws listeners into a space where sound becomes a language of connection, a dialogue across generations, geographies and genres. Her cello is her voice, and she uses it with rare honesty and purpose.
Yet Estelle Revaz does not stop at the edge of the stage. She carries her sense of responsibility into the civic realm, using her platform to advocate for the vulnerable and to defend the place of culture in society. Her election to the National Council is not a detour but an extension of her vocation. In Parliament, as in performance, she listens, reflects and acts with grace and clarity.
Few artists manage to unite such diverse callings with authenticity. Estelle Revaz is not a cellist who happens to be a politician. She is a cultural figure who weaves her music, teaching, research and political engagement into a single, coherent life story. A story not of separation, but of synthesis.
In an age of noise and distraction, Estelle Revaz reminds us what it means to be truly in tune. She is not only composing beautiful phrases. She is writing a life. And in doing so, she inspires others to play their part in harmony with the world.
José Amorim
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