The Vevey Spring Classic is thrilled to continue a close artistic collaboration with the Orchestra dell’Accademia Teatro alla Scala and to welcome them back into our musical family in May 2026, this time for a six-day residency. The Academy which runs under the auspices of the venerable Teatro alla Scala di Milano belongs to the few European elite training ground for young musicians.

Within its Music Department, the Advanced Course for Orchestra Musicians training stands out, supporting highly selected talented young musicians who wish to deepen their knowledge of the symphonic, operatic and ballet repertoire as they embark on their professional orchestral careers. The two-year program for each Academy musician, which guarantees significant experiences under the guidance of the Principals players of the La Scala Orchestra and renowned conductors, also includes a focus on the 20th-century and contemporary repertoire, as well as forays into chamber music literature.

My relationship with the Accademia Teatro alla Scala started in 2020 when I came to conduct a concert that took place at the Teatro alla Scala, merely a few days before the Covid pandemic prohibited all public gatherings, with music by Schönberg, Widmann and Hindemith. True to the artistic mission of the Vevey Spring Classic, mentoring the young generation of musicians play an important role in my professional life as a musician. Earlier this year, I had the great pleasure working and performing such array of challenging repertoire by Stravinsky, Berg, Shostakovich and Hindemith together with the Academy musicians, both in Milan and Vevey. In addition, a beautiful composition written by the long-time Principal Viola of the Teatro alla Scala, Simonide Braconi, was also featured in our concert in Milan.

Constant juxtaposition of the old and new is truly part of the DNA of our lives as musicians. In their Vevey Spring Classic residency in 2026, the Academy Orchestra is featured to perform music by Mozart, Beethoven, Schönberg, Hindemith and Poulenc. The distinguished German violinist Veronika Eberle will perform as a soloist together with the formidable Hungarian violist Máté Szücs. Additionally the Brazilian pianist Cristian Budu, winner of the 2013 Clara Haskil International Piano Competition will be the soloist with the Academy Orchestra in the “Hommage à Clara Haskil” concert. 

The famous sentence by the Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger “Res severa est verum gaudium” (true joy is a serious matter) serves as the guiding light to inspire our society, including the younger generation, to constantly and tirelessly searching for the deeper meaning of life, to always be curious and to never stop learning because the “true joy” is indeed a serious matter.

Wilson Hermanto
Co-Artistic Director, Vevey Spring Classic

-.-

---

-.-

We are truly delighted to consolidate our bond with the Vevey Spring Classic Festival, which for the 2026 edition will once again host our Orchestra. Following our successful participation in 2025, which saw our young musicians performing in two concerts, this year’s opportunity expands into a true six-day residency between Blonay and Vevey, culminating in five distinct concerts.

This intensive period is not just an artistic privilege, but a fundamental educational experience. For our students attending the Advanced Course for Orchestra Musicians, tackling a vast and varied repertoire on international stages, alongside soloists of proven caliber, and within a restricted timeframe, is an irreplaceable testing ground. 

The goal of our course is to prepare them for integration into major orchestras, and immersion in a professional context of excellence, such as that offered by the Vevey Spring Classic, is crucial for their growth. It allows them to transform the specialization acquired at the Accademia into world-class stage and concert performance skills.Such international projects constitute the very foundation of our mission. The collaboration with the Vevey Spring Classic is particularly significant, as it reflects our shared vocation to “Mentoring the Future of Classic”. Their mission to mentor young talents with leading stars and build bridges between music and other art forms fully aligns with our educational vision: to train complete artists, ready to face the challenges of the music world with talent, rigor, and the unique experience that only practical, on-the-job training can provide.

Luisa Vinci
General Manager, Accademia Teatro alla Scala