Dindin Araneta: Swiss Alps, because it's warm with music
Dindin Araneta says that when it becomes safe to travel again, she would love to visit Verbier, a village located in the Swiss Alps. “Every year for two weeks from late July to early August, the town hosts the Verbier Festival, which was founded in 1994. Set amid inspiring mountain vistas, the festival features great master musicians, revered concert artists and exciting talents on the rise who collaborate on performances, events and training programs. The founder, Martin Engstroem, was formerly connected with music organizations EMI France and the Opera National de Paris. He worked on artistic development for Deutsche Grammophon and was responsible for the recordings of superstars such as pianist Lang Lang and violinist Anne Sophie Mutter.
“Many programs for artists, students and music lovers of all ages who come from all over the world are held alongside concerts and performances. ‘Storytellers’ is a music, art and reading workshop where children discover classic tales such as ‘Three Little Pigs’ set to the accompaniment of Beethoven’s
Fifth Symphony. There is also an Experimental Sound Garden where toddlers and parents are exposed to and learn to play classical and contemporary instruments. Opera Dahu is an opera workshop that introduces children to an imaginary world of legends and myths where they act, sing, dance and also design costumes and backdrops. Apart from the main stage, there are concerts held in the mountain slopes, streets and public spaces. There are conversations, discussions and interviews on music, culture and related fields, such as about composers’ lives and music. There are film screenings on themes such as Beethoven’s love of nature, his string quartets, or the music of Stanley Kubrick’s movies. In the evenings, secret concerts are held where the identities of the artists are revealed only when the performance begins.”
Dindin’s plan to visit the Swiss Alps remains on hold. This year, like all other live events around the world, the Verbier Festival is cancelled due to COVID-19.