POSTCARD from... VERBIER
On high ground
Charlotte Gardner headed to the Swiss Alps for the Verbier Festival’s 30th-anniversary season where she was doubly dazzled by the combination of star players and the quality of the music-making
‘V
erbier was never meant to be just another festival,’ stated Verbier Festival founder Martin T:son Engstroem as he opened probably the hottest ticket of summer 2023 – the Verbier Festival 30th Anniversary Gala concert on 24 July. This brought together more than fifty artists who have played a role in the festival over its years for a star-studded four-hour marathon of chamber and orchestral combinations.
It sold out so fast, with demand so great, that Verbier’s cinema also hosted a live screening. But while this gala concert underlined Engstroem’s point, the 30th edition (14–30 July) was in fact remarkable in every way.
On paper alone, it was a triumph. Sixty main-stage concerts featured festival regulars such as Augustin Hadelich and Mischa Maisky, as well as others making their festival debuts, such as Yo-Yo Ma and Wynton Marsalis. Parallel to this was the UNLTD programme of more than 80 affordable or free music events and talks, ranging from multi-genre club-style concerts hosted at Taratata restaurant, to mountain-top performances on a specially built Alpine stage, as part of guided hikes. Ticket sales were back to pre-Covid levels, with many concerts sold out. The competition to be part of both the resident Verbier Festival Orchestra (VFO), which trains 18-to 28-year-olds, and the Verbier Academy for young soloists and chamber ensembles was the toughest ever. Applications for 2023 were up 85 per cent from 2022, with 1,250 applicants for 98 VFO places, and 518 for 42 Academy places. For audiences, this translated into a golden year for younger-generation musicmaking, both in the public masterclasses and on the main stage.