Martha Argerich, Anastasia Voltchok, Charles Dutoit and EPOS - The European Philharmonic of Switzerland

Music is a fountain of youth: It not only "delights the mind", as Johann Sebastian Bach once put it, but also promotes mental and physical health. Nevertheless, maestro Charles Dutoit has decided that the 2026 spring tour with Martha Argerich will now be his musical farewell tour; after all, the gifted conductor is already in his 90th year. The fact that the living piano legend Martha Argerich is taking on one of the soloist parts in Francis Poulenc's double concerto at this important event can certainly be described as a sensation. The pianist, also known as the lioness of the piano, has been thrilling audiences with her playing for over 75 years. Her volcanic temperament, her glowing intensity and her exuberant imagination are incomparable. Stupendous pianistic skills allow her to shape every musical moment seemingly spontaneously and make her performances unique. As her partner in this sparkling work, Argerich chose Anastasia Voltchok, whose powerful piano playing and tonal finesse have thrilled audiences worldwide. The Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit and Martha Argerich are an exceptionally well-rehearsed team; they make music from one heart and one soul. They were even married once and have a daughter together. The polyglot and not only musically highly educated Dutoit worked for many years in Montreal, Canada, where he revolutionized classical music life. He created new types of concerts and was thus able to inspire young people for classical music. As a reward, he was voted "Artist of the Year" in Canada in 1987. This is why Dutoit also decided to collaborate with the young top orchestra EPOS, which was founded in 2015 by members of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. The members of the orchestra hold academy positions in top European orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich. In Claude Debussy's enchanting Petite Suite and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's oriental fairy tale Scheherazade, the young musicians will showcase all their skills. Program: Claude Debussy Petite Suite Francis Poulenc Concerto for two pianos in D minor FP 61 Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade op. 35