Zürcher 2022

Berlin-based violinist Daniel Hope’s latest album takes a deep dive into the rich repertoire of American music, exploring its roots and distinctive qualities. “We know a piece is from America the moment we hear it,” says Hope. “But what makes music sound American?” America provides some answers, presenting works by composers as diverse as Leonard Bernstein, Sam Cooke, Aaron Copland, George Gershwin and Florence Price in outstanding new classical and jazz arrangements by Paul Bateman for solo violin in different combinations, with vocals, piano, jazz trio, string/chamber orchestra and percussion.

With its first own recording of a cappella repertoire, the Zurcher Sing- Akademie reveals its musical and emotional identity and opens the door to the unique Swiss musical landscape. HERZBLUT provides an insight into the multifaceted work of Swiss composers, from the Romantic period to the present day.

This is exuberant music-making with real life to it. Whoever is responsible for the feeling of spontaneity, it embraces every performance, and the shifting colors from one selection to the next insures enough variety. First-rate side musicians come and go, and vocalist Joy Denalane embodies an iconic blues singer in Sam Cooke’s plaintive “A Change Is Gonna Come.”

Auf seinem neuen Album "Elegie" widmet sich der Sony Classical-Künstler und herausragende Liedsänger Christian Gerhaher mit dem Kammerorchester Basel und dem Dirigenten Heinz Holliger der betörenden Schönheit und dunklen Melancholie des spätromantischen Schweizer Komponisten Othmar Schoeck. Schoecks Liederzyklus "Elegie" wurde bei seiner Uraufführung 1923 mit Musik "aus einer anderen Welt" verglichen und ist nach wie vor eines der verkannten Wunder des Liedrepertoires. Die 24 Lieder, die von einem Ensemble aus 15 Instrumentalisten begleitet werden, erzählen eine Geschichte von schmerzlichen Abschieden, verlorener Liebe und verblassender Schönheit.