Norman Lebrecht

Swanky, stale and sullen, the summer music festival has had its day

The traditions of the Salzburg, Lucerne and Verbier festivals were built on fear, vanity and Nazi gold. Why would anyone miss them?

Verbier wanted to be the antidote to the corruption and ostentation of other festivals but it wasn’t long before vanity trumped verity. [Photo: Nicolas Brodard, Verbier Festival]
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