Davos Festival celebrates the senses

By Sarah Batschelet, 05 August 2020

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“the end of the second movement felt like Grace itself had fallen over the hall”

Reviewed at Morosani Schweizerhof, Davos on 3 August 2020

Schubert, String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, "Death and the Maiden", D.810 (Allegro arr. saxophone quartet)

Beethoven, Cello Sonata no. 3 in A major, Op.69

Liszt, Prometheus, S 99

Danzi, Piano Quintet, Op.41

Amanda Taurina, Oboe

Anton Spronk, Cello

Chiara Opalio, Piano

Frederic Bager, Piano

Ivo Dudler, French horn

Joë Christophe, Clarinet

Marie Boichard, Bassoon

Marlene Heiß, Piano

SIBJA Saxophone Quartet, Saxophone ensemble

Spectacular views and musical serenades at the Davos Festival

Sarah Batschelet, 7th August

If ever there were an original programme at one of Switzerland’s esteemed summer festivals, this Festivalwanderung was it.

*****

Take Me to Church: Tiefsinn at the Davos Festival

Sarah Batschelet, 5th August

Staged in the town’s quaint St Johann Church, the Davos Festival’s “Tiefsinn” concert featured a fine choir and soloists, saxophone quartet, chamber orchestra and a dauntless solo cellist.

****1

Entre soleil couchant et chants d'oiseaux : Nouveaux Horizons à Aix

François Jestin, 5th November

Pour le deuxième concert du festival aixois, deux créations de Bastien David et David Hudry se mêlaient au chant de Respighi et au Quintette d'Elgar, avec une pléiade de chambristes talentueux.

****1

De Lacôte à Louati : Nouveaux Horizons prometteurs à Aix-en-Provence

François Jestin, 4th November

Le festival aixois imaginé par Renaud Capuçon et dédié à la création contemporaine connaît sa deuxième édition. Retour sur le concert d'ouverture qui présentait deux œuvres en première mondiale.

****1

The Davos Festival pays tribute to Britten and Bosmans

Sarah Batschelet, 18th August

The wide-ranging programme, titled "Glitter and Be Gay!", highlights the work of two composers who were open about their sexual orientations at a time when few contemporaries came out.

****1

Turangalîla underwhelms at the Southbank’s Multitudes festival

Roy Westbrook, 23rd April

Serious music ill-matched by filmic limitations as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra tackles Messiaen’s epic “symphony” as part of the Southbank’s cross-genre festival.

**111

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Sarah Batschelet

Sarah Batschlelet, long based in Switzerland, took a degree in Art History from Smith College, Northampton, Massachuetts, and lives as a freelance writer and editor near Zurich.