In 1974, when György Sebök decided to found a music festival in a mountain village in the Goms, his vision was of an oasis of culture and music. Far removed from glamour and stardom, where stress is but a remote memory, he imagined a place of tranquillity, where performers would meet and make music together. While the scope of the festival has expanded over the years, Ernen continues to embody Sebök’s vision to this day, and remains a microcosm of charm, authenticity and the simple life. What will Ernen be for you? Sublime music performed by extraordinary musicians, hiking in the spectacular mountains, taking a literature course or a writing workshop, world-class Swiss cuisine coupled with a glass of regional Valais wine. Join us and find out!
Music is invisible...
... but in its realisation – the sweeping gestures of a violinist, the swinging torso of a bassist, a tapping foot in the audience – music takes on a physical form and shape, and its character becomes visible.
This transformation of musical language into physical expression has long been explored by composers and musicians, and particularly by choreographers and dancers. Michel Fokine springs to mind, the Russian choreographer whose ballet “Les Sylphides” interprets music of Chopin. Or George Balanchine who, inspired by Brahms and Beethoven, brought the tradition of Russian ballet to the USA. More recently, the Swiss choreographer Heinz Spoerli turned JS Bach’s "Cello-Sonatas" into dance. Conversely, the music of such ballets as Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" and Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du printemps“ have naturally found their place in concert programmes without a dancer in sight.
Orchestral rhythms and sound-worlds appearing to acquire shape and movement; dance music coming to life, setting players and audience alike in motion – such interplay in the historic relationship of music and dance awaits you at the 45th concert season (10th June – 16th September 2018) of Musikdorf Ernen.
Get moving, and dance to Musikdorf! We look forward to welcoming you.