Charlotte Smith
My trip to cover the Bravo! Vail Music Festival in its 32nd season was not what I expected – but neither was it the disappointment it might have been under less enthusiastic and capable management. The original draw, apart from Colorado’s breathtaking mountain scenery, was star soloist Anne- Sophie Mutter, who was due to open the six-week event with the complete Mozart violin concertos over two nights of performances with Chamber Music Vienna-Berlin – a tantalising prospect considering the orchestra was composed of elite musicians hand-picked from the already elite Vienna and Berlin philharmonics. However, unfortunate and unavoidable circumstances meant that Mutter had to delay her appearance at the festival, and that I had returned to the UK by the time she was able to perform.