16 culture Crans-Montana Classics is preparing to open its new season with two outstanding concerts. The New Year’s Gala Concert, on 1 January at 5 p.m. at the Centre Sportif Le Régent, promises to be spectacular: the Cameristi della Scala from Milan, conducted by Rotem Nir, will accompany the Maisky Trio and violinist Yossif Ivanov. The Maisky Trio – a family ensemble featuring the legendary cellist Mischa Maisky together with his children, Lily Maisky on piano and Sascha Maisky on violin – is renowned for its extraordinary musical chemistry. This prestigious concert, made possible thanks to the support of the Francis and MarieFrance Minkoff Foundation, is a festive evening in the spirit of Vienna’s famous New Year’s Concert. What better way to start the year? The following day, 2 January, CMClassics presents its traditional Family Show with the musicians of the Sinfonia Valais-Wallis Orchestra under the direction of Laurent Zufferey. The lively comedian Eric Constantin will narrate, accompanied by live animated illustrations by Grégoire Pont. Families, young and old alike, adore this joyful and interactive concert: you listen, you laugh, and you discover together. A rare treat, featuring a performance of Prokofiev’s celebrated Peter and the Wolf. FIREWORKS IN FEBRUARY In February, excitement will be at its peak. Four concerts on 21, 25, and 28 February and 1 March will give these winter events a true “festival” atmosphere. The programme features pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque, who have formed an exceptional piano duo for 55 years, still performing with the same vitality, power, and astonishing precision. Their concert will be followed by a baroque evening with flutist Maurice Steger and his ensemble La Ciaconna, Michael Guttman’s Brazilian Night, and a chamber music concert with the young and brilliant violinist Elise Bertrand and pianist Gaspard Thomas. Michael Guttman, musical director of CMClassics, comments on two of the four concerts in February. THE LABÈQUE SISTERS 21 February, 6 p.m. Centre de Congrès Le Régent “We have known each other for a long time. I love their ‘Yin and Yang’ dynamic, their long history, and their many collaborations with musicians I greatly admire, such as John McLaughlin or Philip Glass, for whom I had the joy of premiering the Concerto for Violin and Cello in Dallas, with his wife… Their symbiosis is a miracle, as are their natural perfection and their curiosity for other musical styles. They also embody a whole world of French elegance, even in the way they present themselves to the audience. I find all of this truly impressive.” BRAZILIAN NIGHT 25 February, 6 p.m. Chapelle St-Christophe, Crans “This concert is part of our effort to venture off the beaten path; it’s a patchwork of classical and popular Brazilian music. The heart of the programme features Villa-Lobos and a composer little known in Switzerland, Antonio Santana. Piano, violin, cello, guitar and voicewill highlight the richness and nostalgia of music inspired by Brazilian popular traditions, filled with sublime songs. It will be a true fireworks display of Brazilian music!” CMClassics’ musical director, Michael Guttman, knows every musician he invites: “I have great admiration for all these artists. I never invite a musician without first sharing a meal together! Everything begins with a friendship, a relationship of trust, which then allows me to imagine a repertoire,” says this remarkable violinist, conductor, and artistic director, who is always committed to making classical music accessible to everyone.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjIzNzg=