The complete Brandenburg Concertos at the Verbier Festival

By Simon Thompson, 24 July 2019

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Reviewed at Salle des Combins, Verbier on 23 July 2019

Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 1 in F major, BWV1046

Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 in F major, BWV1047

Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 in G major, BWV1048

Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 4 in G major, BWV1049

Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 5 in D major, BWV1050

Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 6 in B flat major, BWV1051

Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra

Reinhard Goebel, Conductor

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

Civilised classics in the Alps

Mark Pullinger, 28th July

There cannot be many more spectacular views enjoyed during a concert interval than that from the terrace of the Salle des Combins, the main venue for the Verbier Festival.

***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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Simon Thompson

Simon lives and works in Edinburgh, and teaches History and Modern Studies at a local high school when he is not writing about music. Born an Irishman, he is an enthusiastic adopted Scot, and has lived in the capital for fifteen years since university days, making the most of its many avenues for classical music. He spends his spare time enthusing about music, theatre, art and literature to anyone who will listen, including his long-suffering students, who have no choice.