The history

The festival opened on February 18 with four musicians on stage for the chamber music concert. For her first participation in the Classiques, Liana Gourdjia (violin) dazzled the audience! Winner of the famous Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, she wins, among many others, the Tibor-Varga Competition of Sion. Established in Paris as the other three musicians: the American Sharman Plesner (viola), Mark Drobinsky, our artistic director on the cello, and Simon Adda-Reyss (piano). The musicians performed works by Glinka (Viola and Piano Sonata), Kodaly (Duo for Violin and Cello op 7) and Brahms’s sublime Quartet n° 1. A conquered audience!

On Tuesday, February 20, the Camerata Russe, directed by Andrei Kruzhkov performed. It was the fifth participation of this magnificent ensemble. For the Kaleidoscope of music from all horizons (Russian, French, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Argentinean and Uzbek), the soloists were two: second concert with the violist Sharman Plesner and the bayanist Maxim Salnikov! Works by Borodin, Atadjanov, Nabiyev, Marquez, Karayev, Manukyan (a very young Armenian composer) and two movements of the famous Opale Concerto by the French composer Richard Galliano: it is said of him that he is on the accordion what Piazzolla is for the tango.

Wednesday 21 February the orchestra relocated to Ollon for the traditional concert for the children. The Camerata Russe still under the direction of Andrei Kruzhkov, performed a work by Elena Lebedeva (the composer was present in the hall last year), and Nadège Berger unveiled the mystery of the Black Lagoon or the adventures of the dolphin named Dinn for the immense joy of the children… and their parents or grandparents ! The children’s attention was 100% in the packed hall in Ollon. A moment of pure happiness. As usual the entrance to this concert was free, thanks to the support of the Municipality of Ollon and the Migros per cent culturel. At the end of the concert, a collection was organized, offered by the Municipality of Ollon and the organizers, and the proceeds were entirely donated to the Association KyféKoi, for the second year in a row. A snack was offered to children offered by La Baudelière and Boulangerie Charlet. Thanks to them!

Thursday, February 22, we paid tribute to Antonio Vivaldi, on the occasion of the 340 years of his birth, indeed he was born in Venice on March 4, 1678. We found back Liana Gourdjia, Mark Drobinsky and the orchestra of course. Also soloists: AnnaMiltonyan on violin and Alexandra Pavlova on cello. An overture, the Concerto for two violins, the Concerto grosso for two violins and cello and the Concerto for two cellos. A very nice tribute to the great composer Antonio Vivaldi. After the intermission, a composition by Mozart in his youth, composed at the age of sixteen, the Divertimento K 136, a work full of freshness. To end the evening in great style, the Double concerto for violin and cello of the German composer, Max Bruch.

Friday, February 23, a premiere at the Classiques: Music & Images. Russian music with the projection of images of ancient Russia on two large screens on both sides of the stage. Magic this new experience. The orchestra masterfully performed well-known works by Mussorgsky (who does not know the Pictures of an exhibition or the opera La Khovanchchina?), Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Rachmaninov and the Fantasy Waltz of Glinka. Success!

To finish the festival on Sunday, February 25, another novelty: for the Jazz evening, in the first part, Wolfgang Hanningerperformed in a jazz quartet with Ornella Ponnaz (piano), Blaise Hommage (double bass) and Nathan Vandenbulcke (drums) for a Carte Blanche. A lovely discovery of, especially, the compositions of Wolfgang Hanninger. In the second part,  the Villars Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (VVJO) entered the stage with singer Joana Jantet at the microphone. Jazz standards as we like them!

The program of the opening concert of the festival on February 21 was concocted by Maestro Andrei Kruzhkov: Carte blanche to the Maestro! Two less known composers were presented to the public: Peter Warlock (Capriol, Suite for strings written in 1926) a beautiful discovery! For his third participation, Maxim Salnikov again dazzled us in Nikolai Chaikin’s Bayan Concerto. Our Artistic Director Mark Drobinsky brilliantly plays the Cello Concerto by Sir Edwar Elgar, one of Britain’s greatest composers. The first evening ended with the notes of Shostakovich’s brilliant Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings. This work was presented with the orchestra, La Camerata Russe, the pianist Simon Adda-Reys and the young trumpet player Simon Pellaux from Geneva.

On February 22, the concert for the children! A free entrance concert with a collection at the end, this year in favor of KyfeKoi Association, an association that works for persons with disabilities. Nadège Berger, our narrator, told Nordic, Russian and oriental tales (music by Elena Lebedeva) A very nice afternoon in the Grande salle d’Ollon with the generous support of our commune.

We were back in Villars, for the February 23 concert with Opera tunes; works by Rossini, Mozart, Gluck, Donizetti, Delibes, Händel, Verdi … An unforgettable, emotional evening. The three young singers met in London and immediately sympathized! For our great joy!

The February 24 concert is a milestone for the festival. A challenge for everyone: cross-over between a jazz orchestra, the Villars Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and the Camerata Russe strings. Beautiful singer Joana Jantet took up the challenge in two months only and beautifully performed the songs for the Ella Fitzgerald Tribute evening with big band and strings. The hall was packed!

To end the festival, February 26, a carte blanche to Thierry Lang and his trio (Heiri Känzig bass, Andi Pupato percussion). It was the second participation at the Trio in Villars (first time in 2009). Villars was the first concert of their new tour. They interpreted their compositions. An hour and thirty minutes of happiness for the public: original and very lively music. We left the hall wanting more!

The festival opened its doors for the 20th edition on February 20 as it should with our artistic director from the beginning, Mark Drobinsky, at the cello. He surrounded himself with three young musicians: So-Ock Kim violin, Maya Meron viola, and Simon Adda-Reyss piano. A program combining Brahms, Schubert, Ravel and Dvorak for the magnificent Piano Quartet n° 2 op. 87. The concert was made possible through the generous support Hotel Ecureuil and its restaurant Sushi Bar.

The concert ABBA MANIA was sold-out on Sunday, February 21. There was a crazy and fantastic atmosphere in the hall, with such catchy music, people danced and sang. Hits, hits, and some more hits!  We thank Anne-Marie van Eeden who prepared the little choir of Villars who shared the stage with the group for two songs: Fernando and I Have a Dream.

The Kazan orchestra “La Primavera” first came on stage on February 23. The originality of this evening: three piano soloists. An unusual event in the concert world. After an introduction of an Adagio of Samuel Barber, Elena Rozanova played the Piano Concerto(adapted for string orchestra) by Schumann, majestic! After the intermission, the Brazilian Ricardo Castro plays the Concerto by Schnittke; atonal but at the same time very musical. Amazing! To end the concert,  the pianist soloist of the orchestra, Elena Loss, plays the Jazz Suite of Tsfasman. Enlightening! Between the Kapustin she played in 2015 and this piece, hard to choose! If it were necessary …

For the children’s concert in Ollon on February 24, Maestro Abiazov had concocted a very light program. On the theme of Circus & Music, the students of the Circus School Snick had prepared numbers and the storyteller Nadège Berger captivated the attention of the children. This concert was made possible thanks to the support of the Municipality of Ollon and the Migros % culturel. We also thank the Charlet bakery for the chocolate rolls and La Baudelière for the tea served to the children.

The evening Opus 20, marking the 20th anniversary of the event took place on February 25. Elena Rozanova played the Piano concerto n° 1 by Chopin. Emotions! A serenade of Elgar and, to finish in style, the orchestra interpreted their arrangement for string orchestra of the famous Octet op. 20 by Mendelssohn. Gilles Pressnitzer (Esprits Nomades) said: “We cannot analyze the piece as it touches the miracle … Never he (Mendelssohn) retouched the piece in order not to break the spell of perfection.”

Who can resist the charm of the evening of encores of February 26? The orchestra also excels in encores and have recorded several CDs. Daria Rybak, from Villars, sings two songs of Dvorak and Lehar. Other pieces presented by Brahms, Strauss, Dinicu, Offenbach, Arditi. Loewe, Copland, Mancini … The orchestra interprets more than at perfection, Where Do I Begin? from the film Love Story. Many tissues were out …

The local orchestra Villars Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Roger Scupham with the very talented singer Joana Jantet, and for a first time at the Classiques, the singer Luigi La Marca, (usually percussionist), opened the fires of the last concert on February 28. In the second part, the hall already heated by the VVJO became downright delirious with the Silvan Zingg Trio (SIlvan Zingg piano, Sara Wegmann bass, Valerio Felice battery). What a wonderful evening! Chapeau to all the artists who shared their passion and energy with the public. An unforgettable evening.

The festival opened on February 22 with a Carte blanche given to the Argentine pianist Sergio Tiempo for his débuts at Les Classiques. His famous compatriot Martha Argerich said about him: “He is one of the most outstanding pianists of his generation. He plays with a huge vitality.”  This child prodigy, who gave his first concert aged three, has put together a varied program with Beethoven, Debussy, Villa-Lobos and Ginastera. Ending the evening beautifully with the Trio n° 1 by Brahms together with Kirill Troussov and Mark Drobinsky.

The opera was the theme of the second concert on February 24, with the Kazan Chamber Orchestra “La Primavera”. Kirill Troussov with his Stradivarius violin, and Mark Drobinsky at the cello.The audience left the hall humming the famous opera themes and overtures …

The orchestra went down to Ollon for the children’s concert on February 25. They presented a program around the tale made hugely famous thanks to the classic cartoon of Walt Disney, The Three Little Pigs. Storyteller Nadège Berger successfully held the attention of all children present in the room and they were as good as gold!

On February 26, the sun and rhythm were invited to the Grande salle. The orchestra interpreted with much emotions music of Rota, Yarullin and Piazzolla. Guitarist Albert Pià brilliantly interpreted the famous Concierto Mudéjar of Antón García Abril. Brazilian Suite,dedicated to Mark Drobinsky, was interpreted by him in the presence of its composer, the Brazilian Antonio Santana.

Maestro Abiazov prepared a program full of rhythms also on February 27. The piece by Jenkins could have been the soundtrack of a movie! A most incredible interpretation of the jazz piano concerto of Kapustin by Elena Loss, the Concerto grosso by Breiner on the works of the Beatles to finish with the Four Seasons of Buenos Aires that everyone knows and of which one never tires.

The concert Chanson & Jazz closed the festival on March 1. The young Swiss singer from Valais,  22 years, Sarah Quartetto (finalist of the Voice of Switzerland 2013) interpreted her compositions and some standards. After the intermission, the Villars Vanguard Jazz Orchestra played the last notes of this 19th edition of the festival with the talented singer Joana Jantet.

The opening concert on February 23 was Jazz, Blues & Boogie-woogie! The Villars Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, very well known in the region, and their singer Joana Jantet opened the ball of the 18th edition of the festival. These musicians united by their love of jazz delighted, for the third time at Les Classiques, their own audience! For the second half, the Silvan Zingg Trio entered the stage. Silvan Zingg was called the Swiss ambassador of boogie-woogie by the BBC. Quincy Jones says: “Silvan is a monster pianist!” As for Chuck Berry: “Silvan plays like he was born in Saint Louis, he could be my brother blues!” A very colorful program and the public of the Grande salle was delirious, under the charm of Silvan and happy to be there!
After the jazzy notes, the orchestra in residence, Camerata Russe, enters the stage with its conductor, Andrei Kroujkov. The same ensemble was in residence in Villars in 2011 and 2012 and, once again, the orchestra was acclaimed by the audience, thanks to the incredible talent of the musicians, their precision, and communication with the public.

The soloists were numerous. Mark Drobinsky, our artistic director, returned for the 18th consecutive year with his cello! For the first time since its inception, the event presented a work with saxophone (classical) with the young and very talented Dutch saxophonist Kimberly Egberts, during the Russian Evening (Glazunov), and the same evening for the second time at the festival, the bayan. Maxim Salnikov once again dazzled the audience!

The children’s concert took place in Ollon on February 26 with the Camerata Russe and the narrator Nadège Berger. Helene Lebedeva composed the music for Thumbelina, the tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The composer’s daughter was present in the hall, arriving from Russia, and she was delighted with the interpretation of the orchestra and the narrator. The benefits of the collection held at the end of the concert were donated to the Handiconcept Association which organizes outings for adults and children with disabilities. www.handiconcept.ch

On 27 February, the orchestra performed works of easy listening, funny and joyful! A journey into the world of classical music with a (large) touch of humor. A cleverly blended and inspired program by Mark Drobinsky and Andrei Kroujkov, with the complicity of the members of the orchestra, delighted the audience of the Grande sale.

On February 28, Johann Sebastian Bach was the star as well as two of his sons, Johann Christian and Carl Philipp Emanuel. Compositions for violin and orchestra, Pierre Amoyal, Kirill Troussov and their two beautiful Stradivari, among the finest violins in the world, with Yuko Shimizu for viola and harpsichord with Georges Kiss. The soloists showed their incredible talent and the audience was as transfixed by their attention listening to the musicians. A moment of grace.

The last concert presented chamber music on March 2 with the famous Piano Trio “To the memory of a great artist” by Tchaikovsky which includes his most difficult piece for piano. Valentina Igoshina braved the scores with panache, accompanied by Kirill Troussov and Mark Drobinsky. An amazing ending of the festival after many musical emotions during the week.

A beautiful edition 2014!

For 2013, we invited a new string orchestra for their Swiss debut, Ensemble de soloistes Igor Lerman, under the direction of Igor Lerman, an ensemble considered to be one of the best chamber orchestras in Russia. But before their debut on the stage of the Grande salle, the festival started with another orchestra and a different genre; the Glenn’s Swing Orchestra, as its name indicates a Glenn Miller revival orchestra as well as the music of other jazz orchestras from the 30s and the 40s. A gala concert for young and old, the band appeared in military uniform and officer’s cap trimmed to revive this timeless music. A whirlwind beginning in the festival! A raffle was held after the concert, in favor of the Association Handiconcept, which organizes outdoor activities for handicapped people, either individually or as a family. www.handiconcept.ch

The Ensemble de soloistes Igor Lerman entered the stage on February 19th with “Une pluie de bis!” In the first part, the orchestra performed the majestic work Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky. After the interval, the orchestra performed solely encores: well-known, short and playful works. A true delight!

The next day, the orchestra move to Ollon for the children’s concert “Conte & Musique”. The orchestra presented Debussy’s Children’s Corner and excerpts from Grieg’s Peer Gynt. The young soprano Daria Rybak interpreted the beautiful Solveig’s Song, in front of an audience composed basically of children who listened with great attention! Free admission to the concert, followed by a collect in favor of Make-A-Wish, which grants the wishes of children living in Switzerland with a serious illness. Boulangerie Charlet offered a snack for the children and La Baudelière served homemade tea. A very touching moment.www.makeawish.ch

On February 21, the notes are those of “Perles de la musique judaïque” with the very talented young violinist Diane Aidenbaum and Mark Drobinsky (cello) brilliantly interpreting works of the Swiss composer Bloch, Podgaits, Prokofiev and Weinberg. During the last encore, the theme of Schindler’s List, the emotions in the hall were at their peak. An unforgettable evening.

On February 22 Maestro Igor Lerman presented his Carte blanche. Lerman is very keen on transcribing works for string orchestra; indeed all the works but one presented during the festival were his transcriptions! Anton Martynov played the Glazunov Violin Concerto and Mark Drobinsky Stravinsky’s Italian Suite. After the intermission, Igor Lerman directed his fantastic transcription, with a very personal interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons!

The festival ends on February 24 with Cyprien Katsaris’ Carte blanche. This concert saw a few surprises, the young soprano from Villars Daria Rybak sings the air of Despina from the opera Cosi fan tutte and in the second part of the concert the young piano prodigy, also from Villars, Veronika Izmaylova (just 12 years) interprets the Fantaisie Impromptu by Chopin on the impressive Bösendorfer Imperial piano! When the great master of piano, Cyprien Katsaris, arrives on the stage, the audience, in a full concert hall, is well warmed up! Cyprien Katsaris plays the concertos by Bach and Haydn with perfection. His encores were a Nocturne, followed by one of his improvisations mixing opera music and other works, cleverly blended in the Katsaris way! The audience was asking for more! The generous artist signs his CD after the concert to the delight of the audience.

The Camerata russe was back on stage after its great success in 2011, however, three concerts preceded it. The festival opens with a Jazz & Soul concert with the Villars Vanguard Jazz Orchestra with the very talented Joana Jantet (vocals). In the second part, Fanny Leeb performs in a trio with Keni Arifi and Yoann Julliard. With her deep and powerful voice, Fanny conquered and enthralled the audience.

The chamber music concert saw father and daughter on stage. Indeed, Maristella Patuzzi, the young violinist from Ticino, was accompanied by her father Mario Patuzzi (piano). After the intermission, our artistic director Mark Drobinsky joined them on stage to perform, to perfection, the beautiful Trio No. 1 by Mendelssohn.

The children’s concert was held in Ollon with members of the Art-en-Ciel Company, namely Isabelle Meyer, artistic director, violin, François Killian, piano and Pierric as magician-narrator. The public enjoyed the stories of Ferdinand, the little bull who does not like bullfighting and Babar, the little elephant who becomes the King of the elephants. The audience was delighted! The population of Ollon was very generous for the collection held after the concert, the entire amount was donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation that grants the wishes of children living in Switzerland with a serious illness.

On March 1 the orchestra comes on stage for the Tango & Dances of the World evening, after a first part with the Dutch violinist Birthe Blom, accompanied by Albert Pià on the guitar. They performed, among others, the Historia del Tango by Astor Piazzolla in this year 2012, marking the 20th anniversary of his death. The Camerata russe also played the Piazzolla, the famous Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. The discovery of the evening was the bayan instrument, an instrument rarely heard today, brilliantly played by Maxim Salnikov. What virtuosity!

In their last year of the program, Jean-Charles Simon and Patrick Lapp presented Aqua Concert live from the Grande salle in Villars, before a large audience. There was a fantastic atmosphere while listening to their caustic and out-of-phase-with reality-look at the news! The artists who played during the program, Camerata russe, Pierre Amoyal and Mark Drobinsky played in the evening in a full hall and a captivated audience! Daria Rybak, the young lyric soprano of Villars who made her debut with orchestra at, just, 17 years old, received an ovation!

The last concert was presented in honor of the Great Russian music, including the famous Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Strings, with Mark Drobinsky. A moment of intense emotions. The Festival ended with the notes of the Serenade for Strings by Tchaikovsky, the composer who said this about this work “Whether it’s because it is my last “child” or because it is really beautiful, I am terribly in love with this serenade.”

After their success at Les Classiques de Villars in 2010, the Minsk Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andrei Galanov, returned to Villars following their French tour. The musicians presented a program of film music with Mark Drobinsky (cello) and Olga Ossipova (soprano) on July 14, 2011. To the delight of the public, they presented, among others, Love Story, West Side Story, Masquerade, My Fair Lady, The Pink Panther, A Man and a Woman, Limelight, the themes of the films Star Wars and Indiana Jones…

After having delighted the audience in 2010, the Villars Vanguard Jazz Orchestra was back on stage for the opening concert. Jazz!, accompanied by the singers Fanny Leeb and Michel Leeb for one of the highlights of the Festival. A concert in support of Action Innocence (Michel Leeb is its godfather), an association that works to preserve the dignity and integrity of children on internet. Many fantastic prizes were won thanks to the raffle held after the concert; all funds raised were entirely donated to Action Innocence.

Along with the Camerata Russe, violinist Alissa Margulis delighted the audience during the Italian evening when she played the famous Devil’s Trill, one of the major works of Tartini in a transcription of Kreisler: what a violin!

The emotions were running high during the Stabat mater by Pergolesi with the orchestra and two sopranos: Tatiana Skvortsova and Elena Sommer.

For the third concert, Conte & Music, the Classiques were in Ollon for the children’s concert. Free admission for all children … and their parents! A beautiful moment with the orchestra performing the Children’s Album by Tchaikovsky. The narrator, Corinne Rosay, kept the attention of all the children throughout the concert. The funds raised with the collection organized after the concert were entirely donated to the Foundation Make-A-Wish Foundation® that grants the wishes of children living in Switzerland with a life-threatening medical condition.

The concert that marked our 15th anniversary, Opus 15, introduced the novelty of 2011: dance with Transporting you, created and performed by Alexandra Bansch on a Bach suite for cello played by Mark Drobinsky. “We follow the path of a woman who appears to be born from the union of the musician and his instrument. Sometimes the woman is clinging to the musician and his music, sometimes she flees him. Together they build a road made of sound and movement – solid like a real road.”

A Bösendorfer Imperial piano -straight from the factory- was played for the first time on stage by Alexander Mogilevsky in his recital of Kinderszenen op. 15 by Schumann followed by the Piano Quintet in E major op. 15 by Korngold, a work rarely performed because of its difficulty. The quintet was masterfully interpreted by Alissa Margulis, Lucia Hall, Nora Romanoff, Mark Drobinsky and Alexander Mogilevsky.

Mostly Film Music presented, as its name suggests, film music but also some excerpts from opera and a work composed by Konstantin Tushinok in memory of Michael Jackson. The Bösendorfer Imperial was once again the highlight in the Fantasy on the theme of Michel Legrand, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, by Tushinok, performed by the Camerata Russe.

The Festival ended with the orchestra presenting works on the theme Around the World in nine composers. Works by composers of the following countries were represented: Romania, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Georgia, Tajikistan, the United States, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Known works such as Brahms’ Hungarian Dances and My Funny Valentine by Rodgers, as well as a Triptych of Akutawaga and the Scherzo of Kazhlaev. Pure joy!

To celebrate our 14th anniversary, the Symphony Orchestra of Minsk was invited, under the baton of Maestro Andrei Galanov.

The program, eclectic and enticing as always, put together by Mark Drobinsky, our Artistic Director.

The Festival opened with two jazz and blues orchestras: Orchestre Alpes et Blues with its six musicians and after the intermission the stage was left to the Villars Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and its very talented singer, Joana Jantet. Both bands had been given Carte blanche. During the concert, held at the Broadway in Villars, there ruled a great atmosphere of jazzy and bluesy notes!

For the program The Great Slaves, the Symphony Orchestra of Minsk on the stage of the Collège d’En Haut, interpreted works by Chopin, Borodin, Dvorak and the Dutch violinist, Gwendolyn Masin, played Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major op. 35before a captivated audience.

The Grande salle in Ollon hosted the children’s concert Conte & Musique (free admission, with the support of the Commune of Ollon). The orchestra interpreted Mother Goose, a suite by Ravel and the narrator, Corinne Rosay, had written the texts for this occasion. Money was collected after the concert and donated to the Theodora Foundation.

The event was back in Villars for the Latin Program presenting works by Rodrigo, de Falla, Piazzolla, Glinka and Chabrier. The young French harpist Claire Galo-Place brilliantly performed the Concerto by Aranjuez and Mark Drobinsky the famous Grand Tango by Piazzolla.

The next day, again in Ollon, the sisters Ufuk and Bahar Dördüncü interpreted with brio works by Ravel and Stravinsky for two pianos.

On February 14, Valentine’s Day, the orchestra performed romantic works in the program Romantic Operas and Ballets: works by Rossini, Mascagni, Bizet and Tchaikovsky. The Polish soprano Urzula Cuvellier brilliantly interpreted the famous aria from the scene of the letter from the opera Eugene Onegin. The emotions were running high during the encores when Cuvellier sang Un bel di vedremo, from Madama Butterfly, and Habanera from Carmen. The audience left the Collège d’En Haut, wanting more….

The Symphony Orchestra of Karelia was conducted by its young director, Marius Stravinsky, for the following themes: German, Nordic and Bohemian.
For the Rhythm! evening, the notes were very jazzy with Thierry Lang, and his trio, who had been given a Carte blanche. Great atmosphere in the Grande salle in Villars!

The amazing Russian violinist Kirill Troussov, once again, thrilled the audience with The Gypsy Airs by Sarasate, with its profound and melancholic notes.

The children’s concert saw the orchestra perform The Carnival of  the Animals by Saint-Saëns, to the delight of all the families. The funds raised in the collection after the concert was entirely donated to Theodora Foundation which sends clown doctors to children’s hospitals. In this case, the funds gave smiles to hospitalized children in Aigle.

After 12 years of Les Classiques de Villars in winter, the Summer Classiques are born!

While waiting for the 13th edition of Les Classiques de Villars, in a smooth start we welcomed « our » orchestra from 2005, 2006 and 2007, the Chamber Orchestra of Kazan « La Primavera » on tour in Europe. The orchestra gave one concert under the baton of Roustem Abiazov, on August 4, 2008, with Mark Drobinsky (cello).

For its 12th edition, Les Classiques de Villars invited the Belgorod Symphony Orchestra and its 34 musicians led by Rachid Nigamatoulline for three concerts with the following themes:Italian Program with the amazing young violinist Kirill Troussov, French Program with our Artistic Director Mark Drobins

ky (cello) and the Russian program where the stage was left to the orchestra.

For the Rhythm evening, we gave our first Carte blanche to an exceptional artist, Fazil Say, virtuoso performer, composer and brilliant improviser on the piano.

For the first time, we organized a children’s concert in Ollon for the evening Conte & Musique. The Belgorod Symphony Orchestra played the symphonic tale, Peter and the Wolf, by Prokofiev with the narrator, a native of Villars, Corinne Rosay. Thanks to the support of the Commune of Ollon, all the children of the region, and their parents were invited to attend the show.

For the 11th edition of Les Classiques de Villars, the Chamber Orchestra of Kazan «La Primavera» was back for the third consecutive year in Villars under the direction of Roustem Abiazov.

The festival opened on February 24 in «Mélomanie» with Mendelssohn’s Second Symphony, a concerto by Shostakovich brilliantly interpreted by Gérald Rolland (trumpet) and Roustem Saïtkoulov (piano). The evening ended with the wonderful symphonic poem composed by Arnold Schoenberg «Transfigured Night».

For the Rhythm! evening on February 25, the public discovered the Quatuor of Kazan performing popular pieces composed, among others, by Brahms, Dvorák, Piazzolla, Anderson and Gershwin. With a wink to hospitalized children, André Poulie, managing director of the Fondation Théodora presented the activities of the foundation and his own surprise, the young Swiss pianist Samuel Maurer who performed two pieces of J-J. Goldmann. The evening ended with the «Jazz Suite» composed by the French composer and pianist Claude Bolling, with Eliot Lawson (violin), Mark Drobinsky (cello), Roustem Saïtkoulov (piano), Marat Volkov (bass) and Luigi La Marca (percussion).

On February 26, for British and romantic notes, the orchestra was back on stage for extraordinary interpretations of Frank Bridge’s «Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge» and Hubert Parry’s «English Suite».  Unfortunately, for reasons of laryngitis the soprano Yana Boukoff was unable to come to Villars. The «Seven Romances on the poems of Alexandre Blok» by Shostakovich was replaced by Vivaldi’s «Four Seasons».

To end the festival, as well as the month of February, on February 28, the Schubert evening was entirely dedicated to Schubert.  Roustem Abiazov (violin) enchanted the public in «Rondo» and Mark Drobinsky (cello) in «Arpeggione».

The festival ended in grand style, in a packed concert hall, with the orchestra and the Lausanne-based choir Ensemble vocal Arpège on stage for «Mass n° 2», conducted by Julien Laloux.

After their immense success in 2005, the Chamber Orchestra of Kazan «La Primavera» was invited back with Maestro Abiazov to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Les Classiques de Villars. For the first time, the festival presented theme evenings: Mélomanie, Dances & Rhythm, Enchantment of Strings and Pianoforte.

The festival opened on February 23 with the orchestra playing «Happy Birthday»; there was not a place to be had in the concert hall.

On February 25, the orchestra presented «light» music bringing out much emotion among the musicians and the public, playing unforgettable pieces such as «Love Story» «Smoke gets in your Eyes», «Strangers in the Night», «Foxtrot»  (Ravel), «Hungarian Dance» (Brahms), «La Muerte de l’Angel» (Piazzolla) and «Ragtime» (Joplin).

On February 26, Irina Pak (violin), who had been on stage in 2000 aged 13, again showed her tremendous talent performing works by Vivaldi, Ravel, Sarasate and Mozart. Incidentally, the first part of the February 27 concert was dedicated to Mozart, born 250 years earlier. Two of his Fantasies were performed by Roustem Saïtkoulov (piano) and a Trio with Irina Pak and Mark Drobinsky (cello).

The festival ended with Polina Leschenko (piano) interpreting «Andante spianato and the Grande Polonaise» of Chopin and «Liebesleid» by Kreisler/Rachmaninov. Polina gave the first encore with Roustem Saïtkoulov; they played, four-handed piano, Schubert’s «Military March» to tremendous joy of the public!

Before closing the curtains on the stage of this 10th anniversary one last encore was given by Irina Pak, Mark Drobinsky and Polina Leschenko: «Navarra» (Sarasate) among ovations of the public!

… 2005, the Chamber Orchestra of Kazan «La Primavera» performs with great emotion, Suk’s  «Serenade», under the baton of Roustem Abiazov and the great violinist, Dmitry Sitkovetsky joins Mark Drobinsky (cello) and Roustem Saïtkoulov (piano) on stage for the Mendelssohn «Trio»

… 2004, Villars’ Grande salle is jam packed for the «jazzy» concert given by the Quintet of the Chamber Orchestra of Kazan, an unforgettable evening of rhythm, ambiance, and laughs

… 2003, Dora Schwarzberg (violin) is the star of the «Tango evening» and Mark Drobinsky plays in an orchestra of 8 cellos

… 2002, Aleksandar Tasić (clarinet) is the acclaimed soloist of Rossini’s «Theme and Variations» and many will remember his duo with Elena Rozanova, piano, performing Poulenc’s Sonata

… 2001, pianist and conductor Alexandre Rabinovitch is soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of Novosibirsk while conducting the orchestra at the same time and he plays, two grand pianos on stage, a duo with Polina Leschenko then aged 19

… 2000, the wonder child Irina Pak (violin), aged 13, is the center of attention as she plays a Fantasy of Rimski-Korsakov, with orchestra

… 1999, Mark Drobinsky is surrounded by three young musicians for the 3rd edition «Youth in place of honor»: Elena Rozanova (piano, 25), Guillaume Martigné (cello, 19) and Svetlin Roussev (violin, 22)

… 1998, Maestro Sondeckis conducts the Chamber Orchestra of Lithuania; the orchestra plays on a stage lit by candelabras Haydn’s «Symphonie des Adieux» during which the musicians leave the stage one by one…

… 1997, Vivaldi’s «Four Seasons» is brilliantly performed by the Chamber Orchestra of Lithuania, conducted by Saulius Sondeckis.