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Verbier-Festival-2019

Summer in Switzerland brings back amazing music festivals and one very special has its location in the heart of Swiss Alps for more than 25 years: the Verbier Festival. Last year it was an amazing edition and the 2019 edition is starting. It will take place in Verbier from July 18th to August 3rd 2019.

Verbier Festival 2018, An Anniversary to be remembered

The Verbier Festival is a classical music festival which encourages encounters and sharing between great musicians and young aspiring artists from around the world. With its different orchestral programmes, the Festival strives towards excellence in music education. The audience is invited to live a special experience at the heart of the Swiss Alps by attending prestigious concerts, witnessing unique encounters and participating in a wide range of free activities. Every summer, the best artists meet in Switzerland, in the heart of Swiss Alps, to share their passion for music.

The 2018 edition has been an extraordinary one supported by the thrilling programme as well as the surreal emotion that prevailed in the resort. The result was extremely positive and this anniversary edition positions itself as a founding step. A promise for new exciting challenges to come. Thanks to the Festival, Verbier got known worldwide (65’954 spectators, +39% compared to 2017).

It was also the launch of an extraordinary art book. This publication is aimed at connoisseurs as well as those who would discover the festival for the first time. Published by Éditions Noir sur Blanc, the anniversary book was published on 8 November 2018, available in all bookstores in Switzerland, France and on the Festival website.

Verbier-Festival-25th-anniversary-book

The 2019 Verbier Festival Edition: 26 Years And still Innovating For The Pleasure Of Music Fans

The Verbier Festival announces its 26th edition that will take place from July 18th to August 3rd 2019. It will be 17 days of celebration that means:

  • 56 concerts on the main stage
  • 75 international artists
  • 200 affordable and free events
  • 220 young musicians
Verbier-Festival-events
Kristóf-Bárati
Kristóf Bárati

This new year’s edition will be punctuated by many surprises. Tremendous and intimist works will take place across the 17 days. The opening concert sets the tone by featuring violinist Kristóf Bárati, who will perform with the orchestra for the first time under the baton of Valery Gergiev. The Music Director will conduct an iconic work of the repertoire: Strauss’ Die Frau one Schatten. This challenging production – the most ambitious for a single concert, according to Martin T:son Engstroem, Founder of the Festival – features a prestigious cast including Brandon Jovanovich, Camilla Nylund, Matthias Goerne or Nina Stemme.

Fabio Luisi
Fabio Luisi
Valery-Gergiev
Valery Gergiev
Daniel-Hope
Daniel Hope

Outside the scope of classical music, two exceptional evenings will give the chance to listen to other kinds of music: electro tango nuevo with Plaza Francia Orchestra (Müller and Markarov from Gotan Project) and Brazilian music with legendary Gilberto Gil. Few South American musicians have reached the rarefied level of Gilberto Gil, pioneer of the Afro-Brazilian style and greatly-loved musical innovator. Swiss National Day comes to life with his captivating blend of bossa nova, samba and pop.

Gilberto-Gil-Verbier-Festival
Gilberto Gil

The Verbier Festival opens the scene to education as well. Verbier Festival Artist Training and Development Programmes are life-changing. They offer opportunities to learn, to be inspired, to make life-long connections and friendships. An unequalled roster of mentors, coaches, conductors and Festival artists work directly with and alongside musicians of the Verbier Festival Academy and Orchestras to develop their musical skills while challenging them to explore engaging and meaningful ways to reach audiences in and beyond the concert hall. Academy masterclasses and most Academy and Junior Orchestra concerts are free to the public as are Verbier Festival Orchestra general rehearsals.

Martin-T-son-Engstroem
Martin T:son Engstroem

Let’s highlight the work of Martin T:son Engstroem, the Festival Founder and Director. In 1991, he created the Verbier Festival and Academy whose first edition took place in 1994. In 2000 and 2005 he founded the Verbier Festival Orchestra and the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra respectively. In 2013 a new initiative was accomplished with the creation of a new educational project: the Verbier Festival Music Camp, currently the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra.

The Verbier Festival never stopped its evolution, always trying to rejuvenate, reenergize and consolidate classical music for the pleasure of all passionate people in Switzerland and around the world.

The closing day will be the culmination of nearly three weeks of interaction with the great artists of the musical world. On that occasion, the young talents of the Training Programmes will perform in the Academy’s chamber music concerts, the performance of Die Zauberflöte with singers of the Academy and the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra, and in Mahler’s titanic Symphony N° 2 with the Verbier Festival Orchestra conducted by Fabio Luisi.

You can find the entire programme by visiting the official website:
https://www.verbierfestival.com

The Verbier festival is a mandatory appointment for all music fans and every year brings know-how together with unique performances. Every summer, the best artists meet in Switzerland, in the heart of Swiss Alps, to share their passion for music. 

José Amorim
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.