A day with the Pianists of Verbier II: Verbier Festival Essentials
Verbier Festival 2007-2020
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Cast
Denis Matsuev — Pianist
Verbier Festival Orchestra — Pianist
Valery Gergiev — Conductor
Emanuel Ax — Pianist
Leonidas Kavakos — Violinist
Gábor Takács-Nagy — Violinist
Antoine Tamestit — Violist
Gautier Capuçon — Cellist
Stephen Kovacevich — Pianist
Menahem Pressler — Pianist
Christoph Prégardien — Tenor
Nelson Freire — Pianist
Charles Dutoit — Conductor
Program notes
Generously supported by Madame Aline Foriel-Destezet
Since its inaugural celebration in 1994, each edition of the Verbier Festival has been characterized by the presence of pianists of the highest caliber—the distinguished alpine festival spotlights instrumentalists, vocalists, and ensembles of all kinds, but boasts enough luminaries to rival any piano festival in the world. Today, a who’s-who of Verbier Festival pianists, all among the most awe-inspiring names in the business, come together for this one-of-a-kind event specially curated for piano lovers like you.
Solo highlights include Stephen Kovacevich's poetic rendering of Schumann's Kinderszenen, Richard Goode's stunning interpretation of Beethoven's astonishing late Sonata Op. 110, and Khatia Buniatishvili's soul-stirring take on Chopin's Ballade No. 4, as well as Nelson Goerner and Nikolai Lugansky in works by Rachmaninov and Chopin. In smaller ensembles, Menahem Pressler accompanies tenor Christoph Prégardien in Schubert's beloved song cycle Winterreise, and Emanuel Ax plays the piano role in a star-studded Schumann Piano Quintet with Leonidas Kavakos, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Antoine Tamestit, and Gautier Capuçon! As the featured instrument alongside a full orchestra, Denis Matsuev plays Strauss's Burleske, Nelson Freire and Yefim Bronfman split the movements of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2, and Sergei Babayan delights in Mozart's "Jenamy" Concerto. Three heavy hitters close out the evening: Elisabeth Leonskaya performs in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, precursor to the Ninth Symphony; the brilliant Hélène Grimaud plays Ravel's exquisite Piano Concerto in G; and a veritable all-star lineup interprets Sitkovetsky multi-instrumental transcriptions of Chopin's 24 Preludes!
A closer look: featured composers
Further listening: featured works
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