MONTREUX VILLE CRÉATIVE: Prince in Montreux

Though Claude Nobs had long dreamed of it, Prince did not perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival until 2007. But each of his appearances became an event in its own right. With extraordinary concerts, impromptu after-shows, and tributes to the history of jazz as well as to Claude Nobs himself, the artist turned each of his Montreux appearances into a unique moment.

This workshop explores the unique relationship between Prince and Montreux: from the first contacts established as early as 1979 to the legendary concerts of 2007, 2009, and 2013, including his fascination with the Lavaux region, which inspired the track “Lavaux” released on the album 20Ten.

Through audiovisual archives, rare documents, and concert excerpts, this event invites you to rediscover one of the most exceptional collaborations in the history of the Montreux Jazz Festival—that of an artist who found in Montreux a rare space for freedom, experimentation, and creation.