Saved from falling into disrepair
Its location near the Albula railway line is spectacular, its interior is magnificent and its cuisine is exquisite – and now the Kurhaus Bergün has been named historical hotel of the year. The luxurious grand hotel began welcoming guests in 1906, three years after the opening of the Albula railway line. However, plans to make Bergün an attractive tourist destination as a high-altitude climatic spa resort failed. After a fire in 1949, the building was converted into a family hostel with apartments and its condition deteriorated significantly. Ten years ago, a group of regular guests, who had been visiting Bergün for many years, decided to save the building from going to rack and ruin. The property was lovingly restored in small steps. The reasons for the “hotel of the year” award mention the fact that the renovation was carried out in an exemplary fashion in terms of protecting its heritage.
The award was presented by ICOMOS Switzerland – an association of heritage conservation experts. The hier+jetzt publishing house has produced a small guide featuring the 2012 award-winning hotels and restaurants. These include the “Hotel Bellevue des Alpes” on the Kleine Scheidegg, the “zum Goldenen Schäfli” restaurant in St. Gallen, the “Harmonie” in Berne and the “Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli” mountain hotel in Weissbad, Appenzell. (BE)
The hotel: Kurhaus Bergün, +41 81 407 22 22; prices: CHF 75 to 100 per person. www.kurhausberguen.ch; the book: “Historische Hotels und Restaurants in der Schweiz 2011”; 86 pages, 131 illustrations, ISBN 978-3-03919-180-2, CHF 14.80, EUR 12.00
Music between the covers of a book
The “I Salonisti” ensemble has existed since 1983 and has been world famous since 1997 when film director James Cameron hired the musicians from Berne as the ship’s orchestra for his movie “Titanic”. The five musicians have long since returned to normal everyday life after the love story that attracted an audience of millions. However, standards in terms of quality and creativity have remained just as high as ever for Piotr Plawner (violin), Lorenz Hasler (violin), Ferenc Szedlák (violoncello), Béla Szedlák (double bass) and André Thomet (piano). A wonderful book has now been published to mark the ensemble’s 30th anniversary with portraits of the musicians, a report on a visit to rehearsals, a musical history review of film and salon music, a tremendous homage to the Hungarian conductor György Mondvay, and much more besides. The book also comes with the DVD “Die Donau” with concert excerpts and text. (BE)
I Salonisti, Stämpfli Verlag, 128 pages, paperback with DVD.
ISBN 978-3-7272-1142-3, CHF 38.00
From ice hockey player to singer
Few performers enjoy widespread acclaim at their first attempt. Bastian Baker, just 20 years of age, had an immediate hit with his track “Lucky” and his album “Tomorrow May Not Be Better”. This former semi-professional ice hockey player seized his opportunity and recorded tracks in Paris with support from British and American musicians. His winning brand of pop-folk and his angelic good looks have captured the hearts of young girls and impressed music industry professionals. Even the French singer Mylène Farmer has been won over. Radio stations and the major festivals have opened their doors to him.
The Lausanne-born artist has been performing at Switzerland’s concert venues for less than a year, initially just with his guitar and then with his band. He hit the ground running in 2012 and performed in front of the entire Swiss nation in January at the broadcast of the Swiss Awards in Zurich and provided the musical entertainment at the Davis Cup in Fribourg in February, watched by Roger Federer. Encouraged by Stanislav Wawrinka, the singer even wrote the Swiss tennis team’s anthem, “We’ll Follow You”, for the event. His most famous track “Lucky” is full of good humour at which you cannot help but smile. Bastian Baker has certainly not finished trying his luck yet! (AW)
