Sonic Experience | LGT Young Soloists

As a truly sensuous musical experience, this opening evening in the Gstaad Festival Tent traces a fascinating north-south encounter: Vivaldi’s iconic Four Seasons meets Piazzolla’s fiery Estaciones Porteñas, blending baroque brilliance with Latin passion. At the heart of it all: the next generation of string virtuosos – the LGT Young Soloists. Founded in 2013 by German violin virtuoso Alexander Gilman, a distinguished student of legends Dorothy DeLay and Zakhar Bron, this ensemble promises a performance of breathtaking artistry and youthful energy. The evening opens with striking film music of great evocative power, including the soundtrack composed in 2022 by multi-instrumentalist Devonté Hynes for the short film Naked Blue by Mati Diop and Manon Lutanie, which tells the story of a thirteen-year-old ballerina. For this concert, the soundtrack has been newly arranged by Paul Bateman. Also featured: Dolomites, Pale Mountains, a sweeping four-movement work composed in 2025 by Academy Award-winning British composer Rachel Portman, commissioned by the Südtirol Festival Merano to mark its 40th anniversary. Inspired by the striking photographs of the legendary Dolomites by artist Georg Tappeiner, the music unfolds as a radiant tribute to the majestic beauty of these mountains.