Intimate Music Making

Progetto (‘Project’) Martha Argerich, a part of the Lugano Musica festival for the past 15 years, has as its mission the discovery and promotion of talented young musicians, placing them on the stage alongside more established artists. Progetto Martha Argerich doesn’t seem to receive the adulation or heavy promotion that, say, the Verbier Festival does – and I can’t quite understand why, considering it’s curated by the most famous female pianist on the planet. Maybe it’s because that, unlike Verbier, which has many events to dip in and dip out of during any given day, the Progetto, which takes place over three weeks in July, often has only one evening concert – and sometimes with a day’s break between. But my guess is that Martha and friends have decided they’re not keen for it to be overwhelmed by tourists and press, preferring to cultivate the intimate, serious music making at this tranquil city on the Swiss lakes.