The Verbier Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary

To mark the occasion and express their attachment to the Verbier Festival, many artists who were already present in 1994 are returning for this 20th edition: Barbara Hendricks, Maxim Vengerov, Itamar Golan, Evgeny Kissin, Michel Béroff, Mischa Maisky and Kent Nagano. And let's not forget those who have joined us in subsequent years, or who are playing in Verbier for the first time. Highlights include Grigory Sokolov, Monty Alexander, Menahem Pressler and Yuja Wang, Kent Nagano and Janine Jansen.

And between some of the Verbier Festival's longest-standing members, often long-time friends, four "new encounters" have been planned. These chamber music evenings will bring together a number of soloists on stage - for most of them, this will be their very first artistic collaboration. Duets are also in prospect, as are "family" concerts bringing together spouses, brothers or artists and their children.

Reunions and discoveries will culminate in an anniversary evening on July 28, featuring more than twenty world-famous artists for a celebration of color, surprises and emotions.

In 2013, the Verbier Festival will also be giving pride of place to the Verbier Festival Academy, a nursery for young talent also founded in 1994. By meeting former academicians, now accomplished soloists, the public will be able to appreciate the results of 20 years of sharing and transmission.

As every year at the Verbier Festival, the piano will be placed on a pedestal. Numerous concerts and recitals will celebrate the diversity of piano schools and repertoires, from Russian to French, from Bach to Kurtag.
Finally, the horizon of classical music will be broadened by concerts of world music, recitatives and creations, with the aim of discovering new sources of inspiration, enriching the classical genre and questioning its evolution.

More info: www.verbierfestival.com