Venue: Salle des Combins, Verbier

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.

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.

In Verbier's Salle des Combins, despite the change of programme, Ambrogio Maestri and Maria Bayankina deliver stand-out performances. 

Kissin the mature artist speaks to Beethoven's architectural depths in the Swiss mountains. 

Bach on modern instruments: superbly played but inconsistent

Young musicians and experienced stars combine for a thrilling Frau in its centenary year

Classy performances from Leonidas Kavakos and Ying Fang, joining Christoph Eschenbach and the Verbier Festival Orchestra in a polished Berg Violin Concerto and a sublime Mahler 4.

Like most honest listeners I crave a taste of turpitude in Salome.