Arts Global

The Swiss Global Artistic Foundation broke new ground recently by organising the first event with amateur musicians in its ten year history.

But these were amateur musicians with a difference -- they are three eminent members of the medical and educational professions in Lausanne, Professors Jean-Blaise Wasserfallen flute, François Spertini viola and Jean-Paul Dépraz cello.

Please click the underlined date for further information and photographs, and please see the 4 December Events article to view the concert programme.

Swiss Global will present a recital by a trio made up of three of the most eminent members of Lausanne's medical profession: Jean-Blaise Wasserfallen flute, François Spertini viola and Jean-Paul Dépraz cello. The three consultants are avid music makers in the limited time available to them away from their busy professional activities, and we are honoured that they have agreed to perform for the first time in public under the Foundation's auspices, in aid of a children's charity. The programme will include music by Roussel, Giordani and von Call, and our public relations advisor, Michael Green, will give a short talk on the life and achievements of the French composer Albert Roussel, now the subject of much renewed public interest.

Please click the underlined date to read the programme.

Friends of the Foundation were treated to a House Concert at the Swiss Global World Headquarters in Montreux, Switzerland this past Monday evening. Young Artist Amir Farid piano, on the Foundation's official Bösendorfer instrument, performed solo Iranian music and accompanied Matthew Garrett tenor in a collection of arias and works of American musical theatre. Collaborative artist Rachel Kolly d'Alba violin performed works of Debussy and Ravel with Mr Farid at the piano.

Please click the underlined date for event photos.

Swiss Global Artistic Director Geoffrey Simon conducted three concerts in November:

On Friday, 7 November in Brisbane, Australia, Mr Simon led The Queensland Orchestra in the Australian premiere of Advisory Board member Barry Conyngham's Cala Tuent.

In a second concert with this orchestra, on Friday, November 14, Mr Simon and Swiss Global presented for the first time in Australia the brilliant young Korean violinist, Hahn-Bin.

On Sunday, 23 November, Geoffrey Simon and Barry Conyngham presented the Hong Kong premiere of Cala Tuent with the Pro Arte Orchestra of Hong Kong, at a concert which featured one of the Foundation's young artists in a concerto performance.

Please click the underlined date to view the concert programmes, as well as a special letter from soloist Hahn-Bin to Foundation Director Heather de Haes.

 

At the Arts Club in Dover Street, London, in association with Merrill Lynch, Swiss Global was pleased to present three highly talented young artists, Amir Farid piano, Laurence Meikle baritone and Claire Jones harp.

Swiss Global Young Artist Louis Schwizgebel-Wang debuted with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in Eastbourne, England in October. The Foundation enjoys a successful collaboration with the orchestra, and fully underwrote the Swiss pianist's performance. Steadily building an impressive international reputation, he performed Gershwin's Piano Concerto.

Mr Schwizgebel-Wang came to the attention of Swiss Global after his triumph at the 2007 Young Concert Artists International Competition.

In October, Swiss Global had the privilege of sponsoring a unique concert event at Bellver Castle in Majorca, Spain, where a work by Advisory Board member Barry Conyngham was premiered by the Orquestra Sinfònica de Balears "Ciutat de Palma". Commissioned by Patron Don Pedro Serra, this new work was inspired by a remote and stunningly beautiful bay on Majorca's northwest coast, namely Cala Tuent. Geoffrey Simon conducted and guitarist Jacob Cordover performed as soloist. A prize-winner from the Australian Music Foundation, guitarist Jacob Cordover is active in the full range of classical guitar repertoire, as well as contemporary and 19th century music.

Please click the underlined date to view the programme and concert photos.

The prestigious Athenaeum Club in London, of which Heather de Haes is a member, hosted, in collaboration with Desmond Cecil and the Music Committee, a recital by the brilliant young cellist Sol Gabetta.

In what has become a tradition with Swiss Global, this month featured the annual Soirée at Christie's. The world-renowned auction house opened its Great Rooms to an elegant evening of vocal and instrumental works, including varied scenes from operas and a flute sonata of Poulenc. The musical programme was augmented by the gifted British jazz pianist and composer Gwilym Simcock, who performed a work of his own composition as well as accompany the singers. The oversold event preceded the esteemed Old Masters' Sale.

Please click the underlined date to read the programme.

For four days in April, Swiss Global returned to the picturesque mountaintop town of Glion, Switzerland, high in the Alps, for an encore presentation of Impressionist music and art. Entitled Jours des Arts V: Impressionism and Beyond, Swiss Global's signature festival gave eager audience members a treat for the eyes, ears and taste buds! In addition to the many Friends of the Foundation who live locally, we were pleased to welcome our featured guests, the Australian tour group of Alumni Travel, led by Len Amadio. With jaw-dropping views of Lake Geneva from the salons and dining room of Hotel Victoria, the guests were treated to international performers and speakers representing the United States, Australia and many countries of Europe.

Within the Impressionism theme, Debussy and Ravel naturally featured prominently in the recitals and discussions, though a range of composers from the pre- and post-Impressionist periods were also explored. Musicians included harpist Isabelle Perrin, flutist Clément Dufour, pianists Jay Gottlieb and Stephen Delaney, soprano Elizabeth Bailey, tenors Matthew Garrett and Sean Ruane and baritone David Borloz.

Lecturers, covering topics spanning visual art, music, architecture and history, included composer Prof. Emeritus Barry Conyngham, musicologist Dr Peter Tregear, journalist Michael Green and art dealers Richard Philp and Rebecca Hossack. Ms Hossack's enlightening lecture on Impressionism in Aboriginal art was particularly exciting. The elegant, multi-course dining experience was further enhanced, not only by the impressive wine list, but in the evenings, by serenades performed by tenors Matthew Garrett and Sean Ruane with pianist Stephen Delaney.

Please click the underlined date to see the programme. To read about Jours des Arts IV, also in Glion, please click here.

The southern coast of England saw the debut performances of pianist and Swiss Global Young Artist Benjamin Moser with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Concerts in Brighton and Eastbourne (12 and 13 January, respectively) featured the German artist in Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with Michal Dworzynski conducting. Both performances produced thunderous ovation from the packed houses, and led to a well-received encore the second evening. Mr Moser's participation with the London Philharmonic was fully underwritten by the Foundation, which enjoys a successful collaboration with the orchestra.

Born in 1981, Mr Moser was raised in a family of musicians. He came to the attention of Swiss Global after winning First Prize at the 2007 Young Concert Artist International Competition. Following the concerts, Swiss Global Founder and Director Heather de Haes commented: "The public and critical acclaim accorded to Benjamin Moser's recent performances in England with the LPO was reward in itself for the work the Foundation is carrying out to locate, develop and support the very best young talent worldwide."