Since I have found this years BBC proms programme not only dull as dishwater but also embarrassingly popularist (Micheal Ball???) I think the clean air of the Swiss Alps in summer might be calling.

I have never been to the Verbier festival before but looking through the programme has been thrilling. Almost every concert made me think can I go for that one or this one. How about Martha Argerich playing Prok 3, Joshua Bell and Ravi Shankar playing together, Evgeny Kissin doing two solo recitals, Rene Fleming, Heinrich Schiff and Sarah Chang in one concert. It's just amazing.

http://www.verbierfestival.com/index.php?page=200707_en

Sarah Chang, Leonidas Kavakos, Alexandra Soumm violon
Nobuko Imai, Kim Kashkashian alto
Steven Isserlis, Heinrich Schiff violoncelle
Roman Patkolo contrebasse
Michael Collins clarinette
Katia Labèque, Marielle Labèque, Lars Vogt piano

All these people are playing in ONE concert. There's enough there for the proms to stretch across an entire week.

I'm going to the last few days, and I cannot wait- it's a wonderful festival in a beautiful part of the world!

Wow - you're going. That's great.

I'd love to see Argerich play

Thanks for pointing that out.
I will be in Switzerland 26th to August 2nd in Villars sur Ollon, about an hours drive to Verbier. Must try to get tickets for one concert, if available!

Hi there,

There are still tickets for Lang Lang on the 28th


AND


Martha Argerich on Sunday 29th July playing the Prok 3 concerto!!!


AND

Evgeny Kissin on the 30th


Apart from Lang Lang, what a great piano weekend:)



oh no - it's a 1775km drive from my house to Verbier according to AA map. Off to check flights...

It sounds wonderful, much better than the Proms - I don't know what's happened to them, I used to go a lot when I was a student & they were far more exciting then.

I'm jealous. Some of us are obviously in the wrong country.

I found another summer festival in Italy - Trasimeno Music Festival. Angela Hewitt is playing there every night for over a week. There seems to be so much fantastic music happening in Central Europe...

http://www.festival-valloires.com