Chasa Mengelberg: Mengelberg’s ‘Daughter’
Chasa Mengelberg—a secluded chalet in the hamlet of Hof Zuort in the Swiss Lower Engadine, near Vna and Sent—was built by Willem Mengelberg in 1911 and 1912, and subsequently embellished and expanded in the years that followed. Anyone who has visited is immediately impressed by this feat alone, as only a very narrow road, several kilometers long, leads from the valley up to this magnificent location. This holiday home—later known as Chasa Mengelberg—played a significant role in his life.

He hosted many guests, friends, and associates there, including various (musical) celebrities. He initially sought out the location for peace and solitude, aiming to unwind from his demanding work as a conductor and to rest. Over the years, Mengelberg acquired the surrounding land, laid out a vegetable garden, and commissioned the construction of a chapel and a washhouse. The chapel was gradually adorned with fine art treasures—items Mengelberg loved to collect—and was fitted with a small carillon, which he often used to provide a musical accompaniment to the departure of his guests. The carillon’s chimes would ring out beautifully across the valley, leaving an indelible impression on many.

After the Second World War, Zuort became his place of exile. An honorary council had banned him from conducting in the Netherlands, and the Dutch government refused to issue him a passport to leave Switzerland. Mengelberg passed away in his chalet on March 22, 1951—just months before the ban on his performing in the Netherlands was due to expire in July of that year.

Holiday retreat for musicians; privately owned since 2010
From 1951 onwards, Chasa Mengelberg was managed by the Swiss Willem Mengelberg Foundation, which had been authorized to do so under the terms of Mengelberg’s last will and testament. During that period, a guesthouse was established to provide musicians with a well-deserved holiday. Initially, the Foundation covered the musicians’ travel costs to Switzerland, though later the musicians paid for their own travel and accommodation. In the 1990s, the continued existence of Chasa Mengelberg was jeopardized by declining interest in holidaying there, coupled with the fact that annual maintenance repeatedly required major capital investment. Consequently, the Willem Mengelberg Foundation decided to put Mengelberg’s beautiful chalet—along with the associated farmhouse and grounds—up for sale.

In early 2010, Chasa Mengelberg and its entire estate were sold to Dr. Peter Robert Berry of St. Moritz. Fortunately, Dr. Berry has preserved Chasa Mengelberg much as it was in 2010. He has also carried out various improvements to the house, and several rooms are now available to book as hotel accommodation. The Willem Mengelberg Society is pleased that the new owner is successfully preserving Mengelberg’s beautiful chalet. See also: www.hofzuort.ch.

Frits Zwart