On skis and carrying his cello, Gautier Capuçon ascended the snow-covered ridges of Mont Blanc to film a stunning new performance of Sequence for Gaïa, the opening piece from his album Gaïa. Directed by Bertrand Delapierre, the video combines majestic alpine cinematography with the meditative clarity of Max Richter’s music—an homage to nature’s beauty and fragility.
Born in the nearby region of Savoie, Capuçon had climbed the 4,800-meter mountain before, but this return—filmed in early 2025—also offered him a stark visual reminder of climate change. The melting of the Mer de Glace glacier, visible in the video, serves as both a backdrop and a silent warning.
Sequence for Gaïa draws inspiration from Bach’s cello suites, filtered through Richter’s post-minimalist voice. Performed here with pianist Jérôme Ducros, the piece evokes the rhythm of a solitary alpine walk—serene, grounded, and quietly urgent.
The video is part of Gaïa, an ambitious album released on November 7 and featuring 17 original tracks by 16 composers including Ludovico Einaudi, Gabriela Montero, Missy Mazzoli, Bryce Dessner, Xavier Foley, and Abel Selaocoe. Across musical genres and cultures, each composition explores humanity’s evolving bond with the Earth.
🔗 Listen to the full album here
Subscribe to our newsletter