A Sign That Speaks Volumes

By earning his place among the galaxy of Michelin stars, Roland Pierroz (1942–2015) was the first to raise Verbier's culinary profile with the excellence of his cuisine. Not content with simply being a trailblazer, he was one of the key figures—alongside Frédy Girardet, "Chef of the Century" in 1989, and Basel’s Hans Stucki—in the revival of Swiss haute cuisine. Quite an achievement! But why did some go so far as to say he was Verbier, its very embodiment? Because beyond being a culinary magician who delighted taste buds, Pierroz also donned the mantle of an eloquent ambassador, tirelessly promoting the region he called home. As president of Verbier’s Tourism Office, this king of the kitchen proved to be the resort’s best advocate, making Verbier a recipe for success.

If there’s one name that shines brightly in the summer concert calendar, it’s Martin Engstroem. The founder of the Verbier Festival, he successfully launched the town onto the international stage. Sparks flew more than once as he discovered rising stars in the music world. He has also experienced some fiery moments, both literally and figuratively. One such instance occurred during a concert by pianist Yuja Wang in 2010, when a sudden lightning storm greeted her performance. Alarmed by the thunder and a heavy downpour, the Swedish director had to take drastic action (literally, as he ended up stepping on the pianist’s foot) to interrupt the Chinese virtuoso’s playing. Stopping the fiery passion of Miss Wang proved to be no easy task—after all, even lightning couldn’t manage it.