A festival is a feast. Hosting one means setting a table that brings us together, crafting the dishes, balancing the flavours, making sure everything comes together in perfect harmony. And above all, we hope it’s savoured hot – right down to the very last bite.

For this 49^th La Bâtie – Festival de Genève, we’ve cooked up a menu of “signature dishes” with the help of Prisca Harsch and Matthieu Baumann. Among them: SIX/SIX, a revival of a standout project from our 2001 festival that gives young performers the chance to commission new works from artists of their choice, and 10000 gestes, a nod to our long-standing collaboration with Boris Charmatz.

We’ve also prepared a selection of “discovery dishes” offering fresh perspectives and new voices – those of Living Smile Vidya, Khalid Abdalla, Lou Doillon and Israel Fernández, to name but a few.

And then there are the “adventurous dishes” that take us further afield, following in the footsteps of artists like Marlene Monteiro Freitas and Harald Beharie. Because La Bâtie’s table is, and must always remain, a space where ideas, bodies and desires flow freely and are constantly renewed.

This year’s event marks my final season in the kitchen.

I’ve poured my heart into it – with passion, dedication and a touch of mischief. Over these past eight years at the helm, I’ve taken great pleasure in persuading, welcoming and exploring alongside artists, producers and our dedicated teams.

Together, we’ve built lasting bonds, taken bold risks and shared in the joy of creating with you, our ever-curious, ever-younger audience.

Of course, I leave the table with a pinch of salt in my heart – but more than anything, with immense gratitude. And as I wish you bon appétit, I want to thank each and every one of you for being by my side, both in the kitchen and out front.

Claude Ratzé