Civilised classics in the Alps

By Mark Pullinger, 29 July 2016

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“Schiff's Haydn smiles amiably”

Reviewed at Salle des Combins, Verbier on 28 July 2016

Bach, Keyboard Concerto no. 1 in D minor, BWV1052

Haydn, Symphony no. 88 in G major

Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 5 in E flat major "Emperor", Op.73

Mozart, Piano Sonata no. 16 in C major, K545 (Allegro)

Bach, Italian Concerto, BWV971 (1st movement)

Sir András Schiff, Conductor, Piano

Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra

Bell, Isserlis and Harding ignite orchestral fireworks in Verbier

Linda Holt, 29th July

On the surface, this Verbier Festival program looked mild (Brahms and Beethoven), but in performance, it had the effect of dropping a lit match into a crate full of fireworks.

*****

A battle of the concertos at the Verbier Festival

Alexander Hall, 27th July

Age sometimes brings compensations: Mischa Maisky's total commitment to the Schumann concerto left Daniel Lozakovich out in the cold with Brahms. Meanwhile Klaus Mäkelä with the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra reins back Romantic feeling in Schumann's Second Symphony.

****1

Verbier regulars sow musical joy at Tsinandali Festival

James Imam, 9th September

Playing under its music director Gábor Takács-Nagy, the VFCO radiated joy for music-making; the very thing Verbier – and now Tsinandali – is all about.

****1

The complete Brandenburg Concertos at the Verbier Festival

Simon Thompson, 23rd July

Bach on modern instruments: superbly played but inconsistent

***11

Weder Fisch noch Vogel: Bachs h-Moll-Messe am Verbier Festival

Thomas Schacher, 26th July

Unter der Leitung des Dirigenten Leonardo García-Alarcón präsentieren der Chœur de chambre de Namur, das Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra und ein buntes Solistenquintett eine uneinheitliche Deutung von Bachs Sakralwerk.

***11

Grandiose Künstlerparade zum 30. Geburtstag des Verbier Festivals

Thomas Schacher, 24th July

Nicht weniger als sechzig grössere und kleinere Stars der klassischen Musikszene gaben sich beim Galakonzert in Verbier die Ehre. Ein grosser Erfolg für den Intendanten Martin Engstroem.

*****

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Civilised classics in the Alps: Sir András Schiff and the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra