GstaadLife

Jörg Perreten from Lauenen. Those of you present for the GstaadAlive! talent shows on the Promenade over the past couple of years will be familiar. For the rest of you, best just click to watch the video of his performance on the Germany's 'Das Supertalent' show yourself. In the show, which aired this past Friday evening on RTL, he told of his rough childhood, the divorce of his parents, how he was taken away from his Brazilian mother, put into the care of foster parents where he felt like a slave. He also described his escape into the punk scene, alcohol and drug abuse, violence, and his attempted suicide... and how he sees appearing on the show and his talent for music as a chance to get off the street and start anew. We can only wish him the very best for the next round which airs on Saturday September 24 2011 at 20:15 on RTL.

Following on from his victory from this year's 24 heures du Mans, Schönrieder and Gstaad Automobile Club member Karim Ojjeh and his team have notched another victory in this year's prototype endurance series at Silverstone in the UK.

In a recent interview with sister publication the Anzeiger von Saanen, Leonz Blunschi reflected on the 2011 Menuhin Festival with mixed feelings. For the first time in its history a concert had to be canceled due to storm warnings. And this apparently caused a slight dent in the financial numbers. Which of course had nothing to do with the strong franc, general economic malaise, or any of the many other reasons affecting almost all businesses right now. No, blame it on the weather: it's easier. If GL.com is a little testy this evening, it's because we're growing tired of the political "things are not so bad" statements emanating from our tourist trade. It's just this, it's just that, but otherwise it would have all been perfect. So while the PR spinmeisters continue to strictly control Gstaad's message to the world (see below), we'll give you our impressions from on the ground...

September 12 2011, 20:00

The construction markers are finally up for the next monster construction project in Saanenland. The development will be built at the east entrance to the village where 6 duplex and one triplex house are planned featuring about 80 apartments and space for offices. For details and pictures go to gstaad-saanen-site.ch. Any objections?

from GstaadLife Magazine by Peter Sonnekus-Williams

Long-time residents of Saanenland, Julie Camerana and her husband Giancarlo have spent many years travelling across the globe. Each place they visited they contemplated local art, design and artifacts and always brought back home some fascinating pieces from their travels. Over the years the couples knowledge, insight and contacts around the world transformed into the business, EPOCA Gallery Gstaad, as we know it today.

by Taki Theodoracopulos

GSTAAD—It’s been very sunny and hot, with the bluest of blue skies above and the greenest of green mountains around me. It does not get any better than this. The farmers have cut their grass and packed it for the winter’s feed, soon the cows will be coming down from the hills, and the Swiss franc will continue going through the roof. Life is now so expensive in Switzerland, even the rich are starting to complain.

It is Country time again. Trace Adkins, Dailey and Vincent and Laura Bell Bundy (see video above) and Sister Morales are the big names this year. For the detailed program click here. Some tickets are still available, and there is a major side-program that is open to the public.