A look at Switzerland: music

Arthur Honegger and Frank Martin are among the rare 19th and 20th century Swiss composers known by the general public today. This limited view tends to ignore the creative force of a whole generation of musicians whose reputations did not travel abroad. Among these one can cite Othmar Schoeck, who created an original bridge between the 19th and 20th centuries, or Willy Burkhard, a pupil of Max d'Ollone, who had strong links with France. Their work was followed by a new generation of composers whose importance for the 21st century is undeniable.

Sine Nomine Quartet
Claire Désert, piano
Arthur Honneger
Quartet no. 3 in E major
Ernest Bloch
Quintet for strings and piano no. 1
Jean Balissat
L'Or perdu for narrator and string quartet

 

Cairn Ensemble
Jérôme Combier, leader
Marie-Adeline Henry, soprano
Monograph Xavier Dayer
To the sea (tribute to Cy Twombly) for alto flute
Promenade by Ricardo Reis, for solo guitar
Sonnet XXIV for soprano, alto flute and guitar
D'un amour lancé, for viola and violin
Chants de la première veilleuse for soprano and alto saxophone
Shall I revisit these same differing fields, trio for violin, cello and piano
Mais je me suis enfuis, for flute, oboe (cor anglais), violin, viola and cello

 

Orchestre de Paris
François-Xavier Roth, conductor
Laurent Naouri, baritone
Maciej Pikulski, piano
Johannes Brahms
Four Serious Songs op. 121
Othmar Schoeck
Elegy op. 36

 

Ensemble intercontemporain
Susanna Mälkki, leader
Michaël Jarrell
Modifications, for piano and ensemble
Hanspeter Kyburz
Networks, for instrumental sextet
Dieter Ammann
The Freedom of Speech, for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion
Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini
Scongiuro, for ensemble
Heinz Holliger
Quintet for piano and 4 wind instruments