The first ascent of Mont Blanc in 1786 symbolically coincides with the birth of mountaineering.

Scientific motivations were soon replaced by the idea that climbing peaks was a sporting endeavour, forbidden to most. Only the spectators at London's Egyptian Hall who attended Albert Smith's memorable show The Ascent of Mont Blanc (from 1852 to 1856), with its fantastic narrations, dioramas and specially composed music, could feel as if they were climbing the summit themselves.

Thanks to the extraordinary Mont Blanc mania sparked by Smith, we will retrace the history of the ascent of the King of Mountains and what this entailed from a philosophical, literary and musical point of view.

Narrated by Alice Fumero, readings by Marco Panzanaro.