MYTHS AND LEGENDS

With eleven concerts for the first time, Klosters Music presents its seventh edition as a growing classical music festival whose attractiveness radiates far beyond the region. An outstanding lineup of artists are joined by clarinettist Andreas Ottensamer, the pianists Piotr Anderszewski and Nikolai Lugansky, violinist Augustin Hadelich and mezzosoprano Ema Nikolovska who celebrate their debuts in Klosters along with the Zurich Sing-Akademie.

Myths and legends are frequently paired – they connect people and places, culture and history and share common ideals which reach across humanity. Myths are our oldest stories, legends are set in historical times, both foster a feeling of belonging. Both remain a powerful source of ideas, and, as can be seen in today’s films, TV and the games industry, they have never lost their appeal. Greek and Roman mythology was a popular subject in the 17th and 18th centuries, especially in opera, and was only eclipsed in the 19th century by legends and myths from the Nordic lands with their Viking sagas, Norse gods and numerous fantastical creatures. This folk tradition continued to provide inspiration into the early years of the 20th century. History also abounds with legendary individuals whose deeds inspired composers to write some of their finest work.

Klosters Music opens with a pair of concerts given by the Munich Chamber Orchestra conducted by their Associated Conductor, Enrico Onofri. Two of Ludwig van Beethoven’s most dramatic overtures, «Coriolan» and «Prometheus», inspired by myths and legends from ancient Greece and Rome, open each programme. Joseph Haydn’s «Nelson» mass, the centrepiece of the opening concert, celebrates Admiral Nelson’s victory over the French fleet at the battle of the Nile. Beethoven dedicated his dramatic 3rd Symphony, «Eroica», to Napoleon, only to erase the dedication when Napoleon crowned himself emperor.

Music and art come together again in the Atelier Bolt with an exhibition by the Graubünden-based artist Patrick Devonas. Deeply informed by the myths and legends of the Prättigau, Devonas’s work is the inspiration for «Arcadia», a programme given by the Artemis Trio evoking mythical lands and pastoral ideals.

Sergei Prokofiev’s musical fairy tale, «Peter and the Wolf», one of the best-known works of the 20th century, is our family concert with the City Light Chamber Orchestra. The fairy tale becomes even more alive with newly commissioned graphic illustrations by Roger Krütli based on the Graubünden mountains shown simultaneously on screen.

We stay with the silver screen and the City Light Symphony Orchestra, for a showing of the six-times Oscar-winning film «Chicago». Based on the 1926 play exploring the celebrity and scandal of Chicago during the legendary jazz age, it is a dazzling spectacle, with depth and humour as well.

1st August is celebrated with the legendary comedy duo Igudesman & Joo whose show combines classical and popular music in an evening of humour and theatrical entertainment which appeals across the generations. Don’t miss this performance on the final leg of their farewell tour.

Sir András Schiff returns to give a recital in St. Jakob’s church in which he will delve into the poetic world of Romanticism with works by Robert Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Johannes Brahms. Romanticism is also reflected in his recital with Ema Nikolovska which focuses on Schumann’s «Liederkreis», the highlight of his oeuvre, and the songs of Schubert, Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Brahms.

«Amongst Friends» is the title of the concert given by Andreas Ottensamer, the Schumann Quartet and virtuoso double bass player Uxía Martínez-Botana who perform Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 18/4 and a selection of Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s «Lieder ohne Worte».

Our good friends the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen return to close Klosters Music with two outstanding programmes conducted by their popular guest conductor, Jérémie Rhorer. Operatic overtures by Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Wagner, inspired by myths and legends, open each evening leading to Peter Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with Augustin Hadelich, and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto with Nikolai Lugansky. Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony, one of his best-loved compositions, full of emotional drama, brings the seventh edition of Klosters Music to a magnificent conclusion.

I hope that you will enjoy everything this year’s programme has to offer and look forward to meeting you in Klosters.

David Whelton, LVO, OBE
Artistic Director Klosters Music