During July, two internationally renowned music festivals, the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Verbier Music Festival take place in the Region.
Montreux Jazz Festival
This weekend saw the start of the Montreux Jazz Festival from the 3rd– 18th July, one of the world’s most famous Jazz Festivals, kicking off for the first weekend with performances from Emeli Sande, John Legend, The Chemical Brothers and Lady Gaga.
The diverse festival attracts visitors and artists from all over the world, and the stunning lakeside setting just over an hour’s drive from Verbier provides the perfect backdrop to this fantastic event.
The event caters for all audiences, with the ‘Music in the Park’ stage being perfect for families or those just wanting to enjoy the music and outdoors with a picnic or sampling some of the food stalls that line the promenade, perhaps followed by a dip in the lake afterwards to cool off.
For those looking for a great night out, there is an unrivalled line up each evening at three ticketed venues, as well as a range of free late night venues including The Rock Cave, The Studio or the Aftershows Lab.
Other famous names in the line-up to come include Paolo Nutini and Jamie XX on 9th July, Lionel Richie on the Sat 11th, Lenny Kravitz 13th July, and Alt J on 15th July amongst many others. To check out what’s on offer for yourself, click here to see the 2015 programme and purchase tickets.
The Verbier Festival Music Festival
To finish off a spectacular month of music, the Verbier Music Festival begins on 17th July, with performances from some of the world’s finest classical musicians in the spectacular mountain surroundings of Verbier. This year, an exceptional opening concert featuring the Verbier Festival Orchestra conducted by James Levine, his first concert in Europe for eight years, opens the festival.
The festival is primarily hosted in the Salle de Combin, a spectacular concert hall erected for the occasion, as well as other locations in and around Verbier. Free events are hosted each day throughout the festival at bars, restaurants, hotels and outdoor venues throughout the town from performances to masterclasses, making sure the festival is accessible to everyone for its duration.
Other highlights through the festival include the soprano Sonya Yoncheva singing highlights from Verdi’s ‘Luisa Miller’ with Gianandrea Noseda conducting the Verbier Festival Orchestra. For those wanting an alternative to the classical scene, the legendary band Buena Vista Social Club Orquesta will be including the festival as part of their farewell tour, bringing the irresistible rhythms of Cuban music.
The full detailing of the programme can be found here, including the free events and masterclasses hosted each day by the festival, where you can also purchase tickets to the events.
