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On 15 March 2025, music lovers at Collège Champittet were treated to an exceptional concert by Franco-Italian mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre and French lutenist Thomas Dunford. The two artists paid tribute to the evolution of the French chanson throughout the ages in a marvellous programme, “Idylle”, based on the duo’s recent album of the same name.
Named “Female Singer of the Year” by Opus Klassik 2022 and winner of the Prix de la Critique 2024, Lea Desandre is a “diva” in the finest sense of the word. This rising opera star has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including the Opéra National de Paris, the Salzburg Festival, the Aix-en-Provence Festival, Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Described as “an Eric Clapton of the lute” by BBC Music Magazine, Thomas Dunford has brought his talent as a lutenist to renowned stages across the world, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Frick Collection, London’s Wigmore Hall, the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, and the festivals of Saintes and Utrecht.
In an intimate concert held at our own Collège Champittet chapel, Lea and Thomas interpreted three centuries of French love songs, exploring emotions ranging from longing and desire to fascination and happiness. The pair took our audience on an exquisite musical journey from Michel Lambert to Marc-Antoine Charpentier, and Claude Debussy to Barbara.
“It was an incredible concert – perhaps the most wonderful moment in the history of the Saison Culturelle,” said organiser Daniel Zumbrunnen, Academic Director of the Swiss Maturité and French Baccalaureate, and Dean of 11th to 14th grades at Collège Champittet. “Listening to Lea Desandre perform Barbara was absolutely beautiful… a thousand thanks to these two artists who lit up the chapel with their talent and kindness!”
We are proud to announce that Collège Champittet has once again been ranked among the 100 leading private schools in the world by the Spear’s Schools Index!
At Collège Champittet, our culture of lifelong learning includes our teachers just as much as our students. Learning doesn’t stop when we leave the classroom or when the school day ends.