Leonidas Kavakos, Yo-Yo Ma, and Emanuel Ax perform Beethoven

Any one of these three performers would be worth the price of admission—but at the Verbier Festival's star-studded 30th anniversary edition, we're lucky enough to have violin superstar Leonidas Kavakos, cello legend Yo-Yo Ma, and piano virtuoso Emanuel Ax sharing the stage for two extraordinary Beethoven trios!

First up is an arrangement by contemporary pianist Shai Wosner of the beloved Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat major, whose four movements present a delightful contrast in mood and character, by turns mysterious and militaristic, rambunctious and playful. Our three illustrious performers then move on to the "Archduke" Trio No. 7, also in B-flat, dedicated to Beethoven's benefactor Archduke Rudolph of Austria, himself an amateur pianist. Beethoven's final piano trio, this grand opus is almost symphonic in scope, comprising four movements rather than the usual three, passing through a majestic Allegro, a chromatic Scherzo, a set of sublime Andante variations, and a final swashbuckling Rondo.

Photo © Nigel Parry
medici.tv’s broadcasts of the Verbier Festival's 30th anniversary edition are produced with the support of Madame Aline Foriel-Destezet.
Emanuel Ax and Leonidas Kavakos appear courtesy of Sony Classical.