September music

The Stravinsky Auditorium will welcome the Russian National Orchestra, conducted by Hartmut Haenchen, alongside pianist Mikhail Pletnev, with two programs featuring baroque and classical accents (August 27 and 28). Then the Orchestre National de France, conducted by Emmanuel Krivine, will perform the Symphonie fantastique and Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, with Bertrand Chamayou as soloist (September 6).

Another French orchestra, the Orchestre Français des Jeunes, conducted by David Zinman, will perform works by Berlioz, Beethoven and Brahms, accompanied by pianist Jean-Frédéric Neuburger (September 8).

The young generation of musicians is particularly in the spotlight this year. The European Philharmonic of Switzerland, conducted by John Fiore, will accompany prizewinners from prestigious competitions on three occasions at the Auditorium Stravinski and Salle Del Castillo, and will play in a small ensemble at the Montreux Palace for a "carte blanche" evening (August 30).

The festival will also welcome the three finalists of the Clara Haskil Competition with the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne conducted by Christian Zacharias (August 29). This year, a concert will also be given by the winner of the 2015 Géza Anda Competition, Aleksandr Shaikin (September 2). 

Alongside this symphonic program, the festival always makes a point of offering chamber music in selected settings. Croatian pianist Ivo Pogorelich offers an intimate, virtuoso evening of Liszt, Stravinsky, Schumann and Brahms in the hushed ambience of Vevey's Salle Del Castillo (September 10). The Arod Quartet will perform, among others, The girl and death at the Château de Chillon (August 31). Young pianist Frank Dupree will play solo at the same venue, then in duo with cellist Edgar Moreau (September 7 and 9).

The festival runs from August 27 to September 10. Full program and information: www.septmus.ch