New opening night Programme

Changes made after covid cases discovered during early preparation stages of the Festival

• The Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra will replace the Verbier Festival Orchestra for the opening of the 28th edition, appearing with pianist Denis Matsuev and conducted by Valery Gergiev.
• Through diligent testing, and as part of a comprehensive government approved Protection Plan, a small number of Verbier Festival Orchestra musicians tested positive for Covid-19 during the early preparation stages of the Festival, which began at the end of June 2021.
• Rigorous safety protocols effectively ensured that the positive cases of Covid-19 were identified and that affected persons were placed in isolation and those in close contact placed in quarantine to prevent any spread of the virus.
• Testing protocols, developed as part of the Festival’s Protection Plan over the last ten months, have been augmented to include mass testing of musicians of the Verbier Festival Orchestra (VFO) and all non-vaccinated Festival administrative staff.
• The Festival works closely with Cantonal health officials and advisors from the Infectious Diseases Department of the CHUV and the Covid-19 Scientific Council to identify and manage further risk.
• The Verbier Festival Foundation remains committed to present an exceptional musical event with public safety as a top priority

VERBIER (Switzerland) — The Verbier Festival today announced a change to its opening night programme for July 16 at Salle des Combins.

The Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra (VFCO) will replace the Verbier Festival Orchestra (VFO) for two performances to open the 28th edition. The VFO’s Music Director, Valery Gergiev, will conduct the VFCO and guest pianist Denis Matsuev remains on the programme and is joined by trumpeter Timur Martynov. The evening’s first concert will feature Shostakovich’s First Piano Concerto paired with Prokofiev’s classical First Symphony. The second performance of the evening will start with Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto followed by the Prokofiev First Symphony.

The Festival’s safety protocols, developed in partnership with medical experts and approved by the Canton of Valais, have ensured that its team was prepared for the possibility of the reappearance of the Covid-19 virus. Its Protection Plan was activated to stop the spread of the virus, which led to this change to the Festival’s opening night programme. The Verbier Festival’s Protection Plan includes a comprehensive testing protocol that monitors and ensures that its artists, students, Festival team and patrons are Covid-free. Festivalgoers are subject to contact tracing and physical distancing measures at all events and must wear masks inside all venues.

This 28th edition of the Verbier Festival is made possible with the support of many philanthropic, corporate and public funders, notably Madame Aline Foriel-Destezet, The Friends of the Verbier Festival, the Festival’s major donors, including its Chairman’s Circle, the Commune de Val de Bagnes, Loterie Romande, Canton du Valais, and its loyal Principal Sponsors, Bank Julius Baer and Neva Foundation.