History of the Verbier Festival Orchestra
The Verbier Festival’s orchestra in residence, the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra, was created in 2000 and won its international reputation under the direction of its Conductor Laureate James Levine.
Made up of around one hundred young musicians from thirty countries, the Orchestra has played with the greatest conductors and soloists from all over the world. Ranked among the best training orchestras in the world, it is known for its prestige concerts and impassioned commitment.
The UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra was founded in 2005 and consists of alumni from the symphony orchestra. This orchestra gave its first public concert in New York with soprano Renée Fleming, before embarking on a European tour with violinist Joshua Bell. In August 2006, the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra made its debut at the BBC Proms under Maxim Vengerov. Continuing with a tour of North America and Europe, the ensemble performed at the Carnegie Hall, the Musikverein and the Concertgebouw.
In late 2008, UBS brought its financial support for the Foundation which managed the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra and the UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra to an end. Since then, the Verbier Festival has ensured the continuation of the Verbier Festival Orchestras, which have become its newest Pôle d’excellence. Commitments from the Commune de Bagnes, the Loterie Romande, the Canton du Valais, the Fondation de Famille Sandoz and Mrs Yoko Nagae-Ceschina have enabled the Verbier Festival to safeguard the future of the Orchestras and to keep the Festival even more firmly rooted in its home region. The Verbier Festival Orchestra is now under the musical direction of Charles Dutoit, and supported by Conductor Laureate James Levine. Gábor Takács-Nagy has been appointed Musical Director of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra.
At the same time, a partnership established with the Hautes Ecoles de Musique in Geneva, Lausanne and Sion means that the Verbier Festival can continue to offer training opportunities to young musicians studying in the Suisse Romande area.
