Russian Life in the Exil – Inner Emigration VII ID:
Symphony Concert
Friday, 29. August 2025
7:30 p.m., Gstaad Festival Tent
The penultimate weekend of the Festival kicks off with an entirely Russian evening – but seen through the lens of exile. Ten years after the premiere of his Second Symphony (performed at the evening by Paavo Järvi and the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich), Sergei Rachmaninov is forced into exile by the escalating revolution, leaving his homeland never to return. In contrast, Dmitri Shostakovich stays in the Soviet Union, engaging in a quiet, internal resistance known as “inner exile”. Rather than fleeing, he challenges the communist regime with music that often, as even the censors acknowledged, speaks between the lines.
Sustainable to the festival: Our bus service is at your disposal from Wangen an der Aare, Bern and Lausanne for this concert.
Bus tickets here
My concert visit
Arrival by public transport
We recommend that you plan your journey to Gstaad train station. From there, it is around a 15-minute walk to the Festival Tent. Alternatively, the «Gstaad, Sportzentrum» post bus stop is located directly at the venue. Please take note of each concert’s duration to plan your return journey by public transport accordingly.
Our tips: Use our festival bus, which will take you directly to the Festival Tent from two directions: Further information can be found here.
Benefit from a 20% discount on your public transportation journey: Details can be found here.
Our tips: Use our festival bus, which will take you directly to the Festival Tent from two directions: Further information can be found here.
Benefit from a 20% discount on your public transportation journey: Details can be found here.
Arriving by private car
If you are arriving by car, please note that it is not possible to drive directly to the venue.
However, there are several parking lots available in the surrounding area, just a few minutes' walk from the Festival Tent.
Our tip: Use the parking lot at the Talstation Wispile and take the free shuttle service from there, which will take you comfortably to the entrance of the venue. From Saanen, please follow the signs with the Park + Ride symbol. Overview of parking options
However, there are several parking lots available in the surrounding area, just a few minutes' walk from the Festival Tent.
Our tip: Use the parking lot at the Talstation Wispile and take the free shuttle service from there, which will take you comfortably to the entrance of the venue. From Saanen, please follow the signs with the Park + Ride symbol. Overview of parking options
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'Our tips: Use our festival bus, which will take you directly to the '
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'Benefit from a 20% discount on your public transportation journey: '
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'<div class="hinweisBody folding__more">If you are arriving by car, '
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'However, there are several parking lots available in the '
'surrounding area, just a few minutes' walk from the Festival '
'Tent.<br />\r\n'
'Our tip: Use the parking lot at the Talstation Wispile and take the '
'free shuttle service from there, which will take you comfortably to '
'the entrance of the venue. From Saanen, please follow the signs '
'with the Park + Ride symbol. <a '
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'title': 'Russian Life in the Exil – Inner Emigration VII',
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Sol Gabetta, Cello
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Ensemble
Paavo Järvi, Conductor
| Dmitri Schostakowitsch (1906–1975) | |
| Cello Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 126 | 35' |
| Sergei Rachmaninow (1873–1943) | |
| Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27 | 65' |
| 130' (interval included) | |
CHF 170/145/100/70