Music lovers who’ve escaped to Switzerland for a cool summer break are in for a treat in September as the sounds of the annualZermatt Festival take over the exclusive mountain resort.
And this year travellers from the Middle East staying at two of the festival’s host hotels can expect the best seats in the house for performances by the world-famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
The newly renovated Mont Cervin Palace and the Riffelalp Resort 2222m, Europe’s highest altitude five-star hotel, are both part of the Seiler Hotels consortium in Zermatt, a key partner of the classical music extravaganza.
Throughout the two weeks of performances, taking place from 3-18 September, the sister hotels are offering holiday-makers flying in from Arab countries special summer rates and exclusive invitations to on-site recitals.
Guests booking for a week’s stay will receive four tickets per person at 10 per cent below the retail price. Those making reservations for four nights will receive two reduced-price tickets per person while two nights qualifies guests for one discounted ticket each.
“We’re also offering our Middle East visitors five nights stay for the price of four at all Seiler hotels throughout September,” said Wolfgang Pinkwart, general manger of Seiler Hotels.
“Concert-goers staying at our hotels will be treated to both chamber music recitals by the philharmonic orchestra and performances by young, up and coming, musicians selected for master classes taking place throughout the festival.”
The Riffelalp Chapel, accessible only by the Gornergrat Mountain Railway, has been chosen for performances by world-renowned soprano Christiane Oelze and award-winning Emmanuel Pahud, the solo flautist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Meanwhile the Alexander Seiler Hall at the Mont Cervin Palace will provide an elegant stage for ‘Scharoun Ensemble Berlin’, a group which uses the classic octet formation: clarinet, horn, bassoon, two violins, viola, cello and double bass.
Other key performers include the highly acclaimed ‘12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’, who will be offering tuition to youngsters through a public academy, running parallel to the concerts and organised by the new Zermatt Festival Foundation.
Zermatt’s Parish and English Churches, as well as the Zermatterhof Hotel, are additional public recital venues, for which concert tickets can also be booked.
Middle East travellers who want to find out more about the Zermatt Festival and the discounted rates available through Seiler hotels should visit www.zermatt-festival.com and www.zermatt.ch
