The viola in the spotlight

This year, for the first time, the viola will be in the spotlight throughout the Festival, in particular with violist and Festival mentor Gérard Caussé. Once again, Renaud Capuçon has designed his program to build bridges between new generations and famous musicians. Yann Maresz, who was John Mc Laughlin's only pupil, then his main orchestrator and arranger, has been chosen as composer-in-residence. "For once, this year's edition gives pride of place to French virtuosos," stresses Renaud Capuçon. He explains: "I was keen to present some of the most prestigious musicians, such as Katia and Marielle Labèque, François-Xavier Roth, Sandrine Piau, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Alexandre Tharaud, Gautier Capuçon, Emmanuel Pahud, Paul Meyer...". 
 
Two prestigious awards
The Thierry Scherz Prize, sponsored by the Pro Scientia and Arte Foundation and the Friends of the Festival association, will reward and encourage a young viola virtuoso by giving him the opportunity to record his first CD with orchestra on the Claves Records SA label. The André Hoffmann Prize will be awarded for the best performance of a work by Yann Maresz. It also finances the composer's residency. 
 
Concerts at Saanen church
The Kammerorchester Basel with soprano Sandrine Piau, conducted by Anna Katharina Schreiber, will open the Festival at the Saanen Church on January 25. Concerts on January 26 include Renaud Capuçon on violin, violist Gérard Caussé and Les Siècles, conducted by François-Xavier Roth. On February 1, Emmanuel Pahud and the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris will be conducted by Douglas Boyd. Finally, Andràs Schiff on piano closes the Festival on Saturday February 2 with the Cappella Andrea Barca. This year, at the Saanen church, the Festival will offer local children a musical tale on January 29 at 10:30 am: The King who didn't like musicby Karol Beffa.
 
Concerts at Rougemont church
The Cluniac church in Rougemont, meanwhile, will play host to the artistic director's favorites with four magnificent concerts between January 27, 29, 30 and 31, 2019. Katia and Marielle Labèque, Alexandre Tharaud, Adam Laloum, Raphaëlle Moreau, Yan Levionnois, Paul Meyer. Henri Demarquette and the Chœur Ensemble Sequenza 9.3, conducted by Catherine Simonpietri, will close the concert series at the Rougement church on January 31.
 
As the region's winter crossroads and the year's premier classical music festival, the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad will once again bring music-loving audiences together with artists at dinners at the Gstaad Palace after the Saanen concerts, under the patronage of various sponsors, companies, foundations and associations.

Find out more: www.sommets-musicaux.ch