Tout le Monde du Violon:

Tout le Monde du Violon: 29 August – 4 September

Yehudi Menuhin is sure to smile from his cloud when he sees the 2010 programme for “Tout le Monde du Violon”. Volker Biesenbender, a student and friend of the “violinist of the century”, built the cycle up this year around the charismatic figure of Ida Kelarova, who has championed the cause of liberating the Roma children in her country from their ghetto with music. Some of them will be coming to Saanen this summer to meet with local children. Biesenbender will recount (in German) the important roll that this rich and vibrant gypsy culture had in the life and music of the festival’s founding father. [...]

Tout le Monde du Violon:

Ida Kelarova – 2-4 September

Man liegt sicher nicht falsch, wenn man Ida Kelarova als eine Art Kraftzentrum unseres diesjährigen «Tout le Monde du Violon» bezeichnet. Ida vereint in ihrer Person alles, was auch dem «Grossen Alten» von Gstaad, Yehudi Menuhin, am Herzen lag: Die Hingabe an eine selbstgestellte Aufgabe, die Überzeugung von der Kunst als transformierender Kraft, ein kulturpolitisches Engagement, das sich vorbehaltlos auch in den Dienst der Schwachen, Vernachlässigten oder von der Gesellschaft Abgewiesenen stellt. [...]

Tout le Monde du Violon:

Roby Lakatos: the gypsy king – 4 September

The violin belongs to a grand family. Even though soloists regret that they do not have enough time to hear their colleagues, they often take parallel routes in accordance with their sentiments and their roots. This the case with gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos, successor to the mythic Janos Bihari, who is pleased in his biography to mention his frequent collaborations with Vadim Repin and Stéphane Grappelli. [...]

Khatia Buniatishvili

Khatia Buniatishvili – 3 September

Elle a la fraîcheur de ses 22 ans mais la maturité d'une concertiste accomplie. Khatia Buniatishvili vit sa carrière avec un naturel déconcertant, saisissant les opportunités lorsqu'elles se présentent sans jamais forcer le destin. [...]

Philippe Bach

Philippe Bach: General Music Directo in Meiningen – 3 September

All bets have been won by the young conductor from Saanenland! The flame of this rising star blazes brighter than ever! [...]

40 Years Musikschule Saanenland–Obersimmental

40 Years Musikschule Saanenland–Obersimmental MSSO – 5 September

Grosses beginnt im Kleinen – es braucht dazu immer Menschen mit Visionen und Leute, die Ideen nicht nur haben, sondern sie auch umsetzen. So entstand 1970 die Musikschule Saanenland-Obersimmental. Alle Namen zu nennen, die sich für die MSSO und deren Verankerung in den Gemeinden, sowie auch im Kanton stark machten, würde hier zu weit führen. Der erste Präsident, Pfarrer James Karnusian darf aber hier erwähnt werden, er hat sich auch für ein Kirchgemeindehaus mit integrierten Musikräumen stark eingesetzt. An der Gründungsversammlung der Musikschule war auch Sir Yehudi Menuhin anwesend und stand so mit seiner Berühmtheit der MSSO als Pate zur Seite. [...]

The Hagen Quartett

The Hagen Quartet: family perfection

A sister, two brothers… and a second violin! There is no need to search far for the secret of the success of the Hagen Quartet: in addition to the instrumental excellence of each of its members (many of whom also have a solo career parallel to this) it is certainly the “family spirit” that has made the German ensemble one of the most homogeneous around. [...]

Gstaad Vocal Academy

Cecilia Bartoli & Silvana Bazzoni Bartoli – 18-25 August

Following the great success of the first Vocal Academy from 27 to 31 August 2009, the Menuhin Festival is pleased to welcome back these two grandes dames of song in Saanenland and to be able to offer young, promising singers the unique opportunity to work together with them within the framework of the “Gstaad Vocal Academy”. Cecilia Bartoli and her mother Silvana Bazzoni Bartoli will teach a select group of students publically from 18 to 25 August 2010. The results of their collaboration will be presented to the public in a concert on the last day of the masterclass. [...]

Russian Hommage

«Russian Hommage» with Vadim Repin – 28 August

“He is simply the best and most perfect violinist that I have ever had the chance to hear”, Yehudi Menuhin is said to have declared after having heard the Russian violinist perform. [...]

Matinée des Jeunes Etoiles VII:

Milos Karadaglic – 28. August

In remaining faithful to the spirit of its founding father the Menuhin Festival provides a superb platform year after year to upcoming young artists. The “Matinées des Jeunes Etoiles” at the chapel in Gstaad is a beautiful example of this commitment. We suggest that you peruse the short interviews (in German and French) with tomorrow’s stars. [...]