JAVS Summer 2026

IVC Paris Review

In Review: The 50th International Viola Congress by the Viola Faculty Zi Ye from the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou China With highlights from attendees from the AVS

A typical January in Paris, France, is marked by relentless rain and biting cold winds. Yet amid the dreary weather, a grand viola event was unfolding, From January 19 to 23, 2026, the 50th International Viola Congress (IVC), organized by the French Viola Society, welcomed nearly 800 viola players from around the world to a large and wide-ranging event in Paris, making it the largest International Viola Congress in both scale and attendance since its inception in 1973 in Germany. The congress lasted for five days – a typical length. However, unlike previous editions which were typically held in a single venue, this year’s event took place across five different locations in Paris — in major venues such as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, the Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique, and the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris – Ida Rubinstein, as well as the famed Opéra Bastille. A total of 211 events, including concerts, lectures, masterclasses and workshops, were held

concurrently in various formats. This made the experience a true test of both stamina as well as scheduling and travel logistics for participants and audiences alike. The opening ceremony of the congress took place on the morning of January 19 at the Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique. It began with the main theme from Berlioz’s Harold in Italy transcribed for viola sextet, performed by retiring International Viola Society President Jutta Puchhammer, French Viola Society President Françoise Gneri, and members of the French Viola Society. Notably, this very theater was also the venue where Harold in Italy premiered in 1834. As the familiar viola melody of the first movement, Harold in the Mountains, unfolded, it seemed to echo the half century journey of the International Viola Congress— honoring the dedication of countless predecessors whose efforts have brought the International Viola Society to this milestone, allowing it to shine with a distinctive brilliance in its 50th year.

Figure 1. Jutta Puchhammer and Françoise Gneri performed at the opening ceremony at the 50th IVC. Photo courtesy of Zi Ye.

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 42, Summer 2026 Online Issue

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