Stratocaster or Stradivarius? - Freddie, Verbier
Monday July 26, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

The Verbier Festival is now in its 17^th year.

This year 2000 musicians were auditioned for the orchestra and there were only 150 places. 

Normally the music festival erects a big marquee at Medran which, in the past, has been criticised for being too noisy when it rains. 

This year, due to building work at Medran, the site for the festival has been moved to the car park near The Sports Centre.

I have watched for weeks as bull dozers have flattened the car park and builders have erected a huge box like structure which has written on the outside, Temporaire.

There looks nothing temporary about this huge rather ugly structure.

Looks ugly outside, sounds beautiful inside

The roof was built on the ground and then cleverly winched up to its correct height.

The building has a huge stage with a lighting and sound rig. The famous performers have their own dressing room complete with air-conditioning.

However the air conditioning doesn't stretch to the auditorium.

In temperatures of 30c I am wondering for how long people in the back row will be able to stay awake? 

Quite a structure though

The town is brimming with tourists who flock from various countries and cultures to have a chance of seeing some of the world's best music performers and yet it's almost as if they've taken Verbier by surprise, all the roads have been up and barriers everywhere rerouting the traffic.

There are floral tributes to music all over the town, at the side of the road as you enter Verbier there is a cello shaped flower bed in full yellow bloom and on the roundabouts there are sculptures with trumpets billowing out.

I was fortunate enough to navigate my way to the new hall and witness a rehearsal.

The festival goers

The magnificent Yuja Wang, is only 22 years old but she has fingers like lightning on the piano.

Her recital was a vibrant modern piece written by Prokofiev played with intense expression and fabulous technique.

There are many places where you can watch music recitals for free, the cinema is putting on a concert everyday at 4:30pm - many talented musicians are playing a diverse collection of composers.

The Place Central has apero jazz everyday from 5pm and there are many master classes dotted all over the town in places like Chalet D'Adrien, Le Croq and the restaurant, Le Rouge.

For the paid concerts and to see the crème de la crème, the venue is usually the church in Verbier or the new festival hall at La Salle des Combins near The Sports Centre.

Everyday there a free programmes available from the tourist office and they give you a day by day timetable of events both free and those for a fee.

The town really is in full festive spirit and it's worth taking in at least one recital even if you're not the biggest classical music fan.

It's just wonderful to see talented artists at work.

In a few months time it will be heavy-metal look-alikes thumping out loud cover versions of classic rock songs in the Farinet to the assembled drunken mass.

For the moment though I am enjoying something entirely different.

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