Another summer festival gone virtual this year is Cambridge Summer Music Festival, with archived performances available to view online and more updates available on its social media channels. This list may not reflect recent changes . Some of the ensembles will be coming together to perform for the first time since lockdown, and they will all be revisiting their very favourite repertoire. Pianist András Schiff, cellist Sol Gabetta, violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and tenor Daniel Behle will all make appearances, bringing live music to the comfort of your own home as travel remains restricted for many due to the coronavirus pandemic. There are drawbacks, of course, and like many of us Koch misses the joy of live music, made and experienced in person. Performers from major orchestras serve as faculty. Operas by Samuel Barber (Vanessa), and Handel (Rinaldo), are also being followed by Ravel, Strauss and Britten. Visit buergenstock-selection.ch, lucernefestival.ch and andermattmusic.com to discover more about the hotels and festivals. Even better? Sadly, coronavirus meant the festival’s second outing – which was going to see the launch of the Riga Jurmala Festival Academy as well – has had to be postponed. Education programs, master classes, etc. You can opt out at any time or find out more by reading our cookie policy. ‘Live from London’ is a new online festival featuring beautiful music from some of the world’s best vocal ensembles, including The Sixteen (The Voices of Classic FM), VOCES8, I Fagiolini, Stile Antico, The Gesualdo Six, Apollo5 and The Swingles. Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western music (both liturgical and secular), and has long been played at festival-like settings. By It’s not over, they say, until the perfectly-formed lady sings. Picture: Following a billion-Swiss-franc upgrade of their three world-leading properties, the Bürgenstock Selection now offers personalised, five- or eight-night mini-tours to Bern, Lausanne and Lucerne. Is this the most glamorous family staycation this summer? Text is available … [1] The major time divisions of classical music are as follows: the early music period, which includes the Medieval (500–1400) and the Renaissance (1400–1600) era, played at early music festivals; the common practice period, which includes the Baroque (1600–1750), Classical (1750–1830), and Romantic eras (1804–1910), which included opera festivals and choral festivals; and the 20th century (1901–2000) which includes the modern (1890–1930) that overlaps from the late 19th-century, the high modern (mid 20th-century), and contemporary classical music festivals or postmodern (1975–2000) eras, the last of which overlaps into the 21st-century. Many festivals have been cancelled due to COVID-19 this year – but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy what they have to offer virtually. Programm – 1. The fact that we originate from different cultures, and have four different official languages makes the festivals we celebrate even more interesting.. Valleys that were cut off in winter from the rest of Switzerland developed unique traditions that are alive to this day. 2020 marks Salzburg’s 100th anniversary, and the festival isn’t letting the pandemic dampen the opportunity to celebrate world-class music making. The term "classical music" did not appear until the early 19th century, in an attempt to distinctly canonize the period from Johann Sebastian Bach to Beethoven as a golden age. The Lucerne Festival kicks off in August and features four weeks of over 100 concerts, including all nine of Beethoven symphonies and a line-up of world-class orchestras like the Vienna Philharmonic, the Staatskapelle Dresden and the Berlin Philharmonic – who, incidentally, gave the inaugural concert in Andermatt’s eponymous music venue nearby last autumn, putting the previously sleepy ski resort firmly on the cultural map. Visit: www.facebook.com/rigajurmalaacademy. This annual June festival features advanced university-level ensembles. The following is an incomplete list of classical music festivals – music festivals focused on classical music. Winter in Switzerland is a celebration that doesn‘t stop at skiing and snowboarding. Switzerland’s picturesque Gstaad Menuhin Festival streams audience-free, live performances from its Saanenland venues – all revolving around the theme ‘Cosmos Beethoven’. Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra violinists Tobias Steymans and Julita Smoleń, and piccolo player Natalie Schwaabe, are among the top musicians leading the online sessions, as well as pianist Leif Ove Andsnes. ‘Tickets’ for the event are not free, and instead the festival aims to raise money for music education initiatives. Masterclasses between professional musicians and students will be taking place live on the Riga Jurmala Academy’s Facebook Page, free for anyone to watch. Is this the most glamorous family holiday to book right now? The festival was founded in 1979 as an organ recital series and it has since expanded to include vocal and instrumental music, from intimate solo and chamber performances to concerts of works for massed choir and orchestra. The likes of Glyndebourne and Verbier have all jumped online to present new virtual offerings of what they do best this summer. Our selection of the best winter music festivals includes the best rock & classical festivals in the Swiss Alps. From balcony baritones and distanced duets, to making music in livings rooms with children, pets and stray housemates in tow, we’ve seen a lot.