Verbier Festival Academy 2017 - Live and Exclusive
Renaud Capuçon, Vilde Frang, David Garrett, Lawrence Power, Sol Gabetta and the Ébène Quartet are just a few alumni of the Verbier Festival Academy. Since its founding in 1994, the Academy has become a model of excellence in the field of music education.
Read more…The connection between artist and audience is tremendously important. Amongst the many challenges facing young artists today is how to make a classical art form appealing, relevant and, dare I say, “cool” to a public that is increasingly distracted. At the same time, these musicians must find their own unique voices, take musical risks and offer authentic performances that represent all that is excellent in the great tradition of classical music. It’s a tall order!
Each year, the Verbier Festival invites the world’s most talented and promising young musicians to join its artistic community and to take up this challenge. Over three weeks of intensive music-making, Academy musicians take part in masterclasses led by inspiring musical figures, exchange musical ideas with peers from around the globe and meet their musical idols over informal raclette dinners and games of chess. They push themselves to perform new repertoire, play with new collaborators and engage festival-goers—from classical novices to aficionados—by communicating music in new ways.
Our Academy musicians are encouraged to surpass what they think is possible, both musically and personally. We ask them to reflect on their roles as 21st century artists while taking time out from their everyday lives—precious time in the majestic Swiss alps to inspire creativity and self-awareness.
Stephen McHolm, Academy Director & Special Projects
This playlist collects exclusive live recordings from the Verbier Festival Academy concert which took place on August 6th, 2017.