Classical music at the top
Rolssness mountains and Asian horizons in Verbier
The festival is played out from the borders, continues to attract Russian legendary artists and extends its antennas to the East. Report and assessment of the 2025 edition.
Teodor Currentzis in Verbier: Chef Greco-Russian directed the Verbier Festival Orchestra in the “5th Symphony” of Chostakovitch on July 31. An already legendary concert.
Nicolas brodard
- Pianist Viktoria Postnikova delivers a poignant interpretation of Chostakovitch to Verbier.
- The violinist Anastasia Kobekina enchants the church with her sensitivity.
- Teodor Currentzis directs the orchestra with incredible precision during rehearsals.
- The future Verbier cultural center will be designed by architect Kengo Kuma.
Spend two days Prohibit festival Just take the pulse of the classical music planet, as the Valais event attracts the most significant artists from all over the world. Here, all the borders seem to lower their guard, because the music does not have it.
The last days of the 2025 edition have in particular opened windows on what Russia can offer better, whatever the destiny of each. The fresh and sensitive generosity ofAnastasia kobekina delights his admirers gathered at the Verbier church on Wednesday July 30. The cellist at the age of the festival; She visited her for the first time when she was 15 years old on her first trip outside Russia. And she enchants all the repertoires she approaches with stunning naturalness.
From left to right, Viktoria Postnikova, Ekaterina Bakanova and Alexandros Stavrakakis, in the “Symphony n ° 14” of Chostakovitch, on July 30 in Verbier.
Sofia Lambrou
What a contrast in the evening in the same place with the uncompromising tribute paid to Dmitri Chostakovitch by Viktoria Postnikova! Not the shadow of a smile in the 81 -year -old pianist, but a fierce determination to defend the most creaky and desperate aspects of the composer who disappeared fifty years ago. In the company of the percussionist Fedor Khandrikov, singers Ekaterina Bakanova and Alexandros Stavrakakis, she defended an intimate and lapidary version of the “Symphony n ° 14”. As upsetting as that recorded by her husband, Guennadi Rojdestvenski, in the 80s with a Soviet orchestra.
The Greco-Russian mage transcends the orchestra
During this same day, a trip to rehearsals of the Verbier Festival Orchestra offers a condensed of intensity, nuances and cohesion rarely reached. Teodor Currentzis there cisels the smallest details of the “Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini” by Rachmaninov, with Alexandre Kantorow On the piano, and the “Symphony n ° 5” of Chostakovitch.
Unclassifiable and controversial figure of the orchestral management because of his disproportionate requirements and his positioning in Russia, the Greek chief is invited for the first time to Verbier with two concerts of the Verbier Festival Orchestra (Je 31) and the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra (SA 2).
Pencil in hand (it’s the iron of his velvet glove), the maestro challenges young musicians: “Look at me, I drive to the millimeter!” The care brought to the phrasing – “Sing with me!” -, to transitions, to the regularity of the movement – “rhythm is not the tempo!” -, to textures, to the accuracy of the partition clearly shows that its rigor actually aims for an additional flexibility.
“It is a pleasure and it is rare to know that everything is tested, thought, chosen. It takes extreme precision to then be comfortable and free in the expression, ”will confide us Alexandre Kantorow before the general, where the chef, with bare hands, model the orchestra with infinite sensuality. The vertigo caress.
Alexandre Kantorow, crackling and organic, in the “Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini” by Rachmaninov, on July 31 in Verbier.
Nicolas brodard
Joyful
While the last concerts take place until August 3, Hervé Boissière, co -director since May 2024, seems to float on a cloud of enthusiasm. The artistic success of this 32e edition is coupled with a significant increase in attendance and the tracks he has launched since his arrival advance well. “The valuation of Audiovisual archives And the intensification of the touring of the chamber orchestra in Asia in 2026 will allow the festival to live all year round, everywhere. As for the cultural center project in Verbier, he has taken a giant step in recent months, now that the site, in the center of the village, architecture, signed KenoGo andand acoustics, by Nagataare defined. “
Checker, room of the Combins, its 2 August (6:30 pm), VFCO, say. Teodor Currentz, verbierfestival.com
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