Discover Germany | Special Theme | Zurich’s Top Cultural Programme in 2018
Camerata Zürich.
Visionary dialogues In 1957, Swiss conductor Räto Tschupp and his wife Els Tschupp-van Gastel fostered a mutual dream: They wanted to put contemporary Swiss music into concert halls. With this idea the Camerata Zürich was born, a chamber orchestra which still today follows up on the initial dream by highlighting Swiss contemporary music as well as chamber music rarities. Camerata Zürich will celebrate its 60th anniversary all through 2018, with a programme that mirrors the founding vision in all its complexity. As managing director Raluca Matei reveals, each concert of the colourful programme will put a different art form in dialogue with chamber music: Literature as well as dance, jazz as well as media art. “What makes the Camerata`s profile so unique is the ability to bridge the gap between tradition and the present: Masterpieces of the repertoire are set alongside rarities and contemporary works creating an enlightening contrast,” Matei explains. Räto Tschupp was known to sit in libraries for hours on end, digging up unknown baroque composers. The Camerata thus became one of the first 50 | Issue 58 | January 2018
Swiss orchestras to interpret historical music as well as contemporary composers such as Martin Derungs and Hermann Haller, while keeping a watchful eye on music education. Youth programmes with Camerata Zürich are well established today, with three branches reaching out as educational programmes. There is the Camerata Club (ages 3-12) with a workshop programme linked to matinee concerts. Then the composition competition is a unique offer for young composers between 9 and 19 years to write a piece for the orchestra which will have its official premiere at a public Camerata concert. Thirdly, there is the primary school project Camerata@School which also plays a vital part in this year’s jubilee programme. As a year-long, inter-
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active workshop it encompasses the whole school and concludes with a musical theatre show. Renowned musician and cello professor Thomas Demenga is the current artistic director of Camerata Zürich. Together with concertmaster Igor Karsko, he follows up on the original vision of a dialogue between the old and the new and between the various art forms. The 60 years anniversary programme comprises specially commissioned pieces by contemporary composers, featuring e.g. a tap dancer (Max Pollak), references to jazz by Alfred Zimmerlin, a literature encounter with a commissioned work by French author Maïa Brami, and a sound art project at Festspiele Zürich. World premieres, commissioned works, education programmes, as well as supporting emerging soloists (Anne Sophie Mutter for example had her debut with the orchestra) will stay part of the vivid agenda of Camerata Zürich – following closely on the revolutionary vision of its founder.