Chamber Orchestra Zurich
Alexander Schaichet
100 years ago, in 1920, Alexander Schaichet (1887 - 1964) founded the Chamber Orchestra Zurich, the first chamber orchestra in Switzerland; it was dissolved 23 years later.
The well-known Swiss oboist, composer, and conductor Heinz Holliger comments: "It was with great enthusiasm that I read this book about the admirable Alexander Schaichet: A life filled with faith in music and the good in people, that defied even adverse, often shameful circumstances to clearly follow an inner vision, giving the aspiring city of Zurich a rich inheritance (often almost against its own will).”
Alexander Schaichet 1925:
Radierung von Gregor Rabinovitch
Anniversary 2020
3 / 5 November 2021
Scenic reading
A scenic musical tribute to Irma and Alexander Schaichet, an artist couple who shaped Zurich's musical life from the 1920s onwards.
The scenic reading in the Zurich Central Library, scheduled for the Predigerchor’s music department reading room, was postponed to a later date due to the corona pandemic. It has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 3, and Friday, November 5, 2021.
25 January 2022
Commemorative concert with Oliver Schnyder and the ZKO
Concert 100 Years Chamber Orchestra Zurich – in memoriam of Alexander Schaichet
The commemorative concert with Oliver Schnyder and the ZKO has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 25, 2022, due to the corona pandemic. The slightly modified concert program will be announced upon publication of the ZKO's 2021/2022 season program.
7 April 2020
Canceled:
Book launch
Zivilstand Musiker – Alexander Schaichet und das erste Kammerorchester der Schweiz, Verlag Hier und Jetzt
The book launch event has been canceled due to the corona pandemic. The event will be moved to a later date. The book is currently available in bookshops.
12 / 13 September 2020
Concert
«Blüten der Romantik»
The Chamber Orchestra I TEMPI dedicates two of its concerts to the first Chamber Orchestra of Switzerland by Alexander Schaichet.
Sat, 12 Sept. at 7.30 pm – Martinskirche Basel
Sun, 13 Sept. at 5:00 pm – Musikschule Konservatorium Zurich
19 May 2021
Luncheon with chamber music – in memoriam of Alexander Schaichet
Chamber music with Mirjam Tschopp (violin, viola), Hieronymus Schädler (flute), and Edward Rushton (piano), followed by a lunch buffet.
The luncheon at Predigerchor "in memoriam of Alexander Schaichet" has been canceled due to the corona pandemic. The concert has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 19, 2021.
Support the anniversary celebrations in 2020 and the book
We are still in need of financial support to realize the book and the anniversary celebrations. The canceled events will be rescheduled to later dates. We greatly appreciate your support!
Book
Zivilstand Musiker – Alexander Schaichet und das erste Kammerorchester der Schweiz
The book ("Marital status musician. Alexander Schaichet and the first Chamber Orchestra in Switzerland") commemorating the life and work of Alexander Schaichet with contributions from Michael Eidenbenz, Esther Girsberger, Peter Hagmann, Verena Naegele, Dieter Ulrich and Christoph Wehrli, with a foreword by Martin Vollenwyder, published by Hier und Jetzt.
Book review by NZZ, published on 16.4.2020 (in German)
Book review by the Tages-Anzeiger, published on 9.6.2020 (in German)
Book recommendation by "Journal 21", published in June 2020 (in German)
Excerpts from "Zivilstand Musiker", read by Graziella Rossi and Helmut Vogel, © 2020 (in German)
Article in Tachles, published on 24.4.2020.pdf (in German)
100 years ago, Alexander Schaichet founded the Chamber Orchestra Zurich, the first chamber orchestra in Switzerland. It was subsequently dissolved in 1943. The Chamber Orchestra Zurich gave regular concerts at the Tonhalle Zurich as well as in other cities. Alexander Schaichet was a great promoter of contemporary classical music, supporting Swiss composers and discovering musical talents, many of which achieved world renown. Together with his wife Irma Schaichet he has had a lasting impact on the musical culture of Zurich.
The book is currently available in bookshops.
Michael Eidenbenz
Since 2007, Michael Eidenbenz has been Director of the Department of Music at the Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK. He is a professional organist and has been active as a publ...
Esther Girsberger
Doctor of law Esther Girsberger is an enthusiastic amateur violinist, publicist and entrepreneur. She held various management positions in several media before she took over the...
Peter Hagmann
Professional organist Peter Hagmann received his doctorate in musicology from the University of Basel in 1982. Since 1972 he has worked as a music critic and since 1986 for the ...
Verena Naegele
Verena Naegele studied history and musicology at the University of Zurich where she also holds a master's degree in cultural management. She worked as an assistant director and ...
Dieter Ulrich
Dieter Ulrich is a Swiss musician who specialized in jazz and improvisation. He continues both live performances as well as studio recordings with various artists. Dieter Ulrich...
Martin Vollenwyder
Longtime banker Martin Vollenwyder began his political engagement early on with the Swiss political party FDP. From 2002 to 2013, he sat on the Zurich City Council as head of fi...
Christoph Wehrli
Doctor of history Christoph Wehrli served as domestic editor of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung from 1979 to 2014. His main areas of interest were asylum and immigration policy, develo...
Contact
Do you recognize someone in the photos or do you have texts or old concert programs from the Chamber Orchestra? Or would you simply like to share some information with us?
Just write to us, we are looking forward to your message.
info@schaichet.ch
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Our partners
The anniversary celebrations in 2020, including the book and website, were financially supported by private donors and by:
