Songs From Home – Origin III

Evangelical Reformed Church

The Southwest German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim proves once again in this concert how incredibly colorful pure string sound can be. And it presents a little surprise. Under the title "Helvetia" it invites you on a multifaceted and exciting tour through... yes, actually... the Swiss music history of the last 120 years. There are some great things to marvel at: First of all there is Peter Mieg, whose works have already been heard several times in Pforzheim programs. He is represented with his most internationally successful work, Toccata, Arioso and Gigue, which shows him to be a great veteran between rhythmic finesse and expansive sound. Othmar Schoeck is probably the most important song composer of the 20th century and so it is not surprising that the solo cello in his concerto op. 61 repeatedly revels in the most wonderful cantilenas: a real treat! Paul Juon, a descendant of Swiss immigrants who lived in Russia for a long time, only returned to his Swiss homeland in old age and thus gave it a late but excellent late romantic composer! Finally: Bartók - of course not Swiss! His stirring Divertimento Sz. 113 was commissioned by the Swiss super-sponsor Paul Sacher and is actually considered one of the most important string works of his time.

Helvetia

CongressCentrum Pforzheim

Two musical Dames at the very tops of their respective professions – Dame Sarah Connolly received The King’s Medal for Music in 2023, whilst Dame Imogen Cooper received the late Queen’s Medal for Music in 2019 – once again join together in recital as they previously have to considerable acclaim at such venues as the Cheltenham Festival and the Oxford International Song Festival. ‘The warm relationship between both performers came across in their performance and the audience was delighted’, wrote the Henley Standard. The programme includes songs both familiar and unfamiliar , including Loewe’s setting of texts better known from Schumann and examples by the neglected Swiss composer Othmar Schoeck.

EPSG:4326

Dame Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano; Dame Imogen Cooper piano

Wigmore Hall

Friday Concert № 1

Volkshaus Jena

Manhattan School of Music’s public programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

18th Annual International Students' Concert

Manhattan School of Music

Festival song recital Christian Gerhaher 1

Munich Residence

Dame Sarah Connolly’s duo partnership with Joseph Middleton, forged over many years, rises from the telepathic understanding that passes between them whenever they make music. The celebrated mezzo-soprano’s ‘rapport with top Lieder pianist Joseph Middleton’, notes BBC Music Magazine, ‘allows for some very special interchanges’. Their recital includes treasures from Brahms’s Op. 57 collection and the hauntingly beautiful Late Romanticism of Webern’s Early Songs.

Dame Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano; Joseph Middleton piano

Loved VOCES8? Then you will love this British vocal ensemble featuring some of the UK’s finest consort singers, directed by Owain Park.

Othmar Schoeck

Events

Upcoming events

Jul 26, 2026

Festival song recital Christian Gerhaher 1 · Bayerische Staatsoper

Oct 27, 2026

Dame Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano; Joseph Middleton piano · Wigmore Hall

Feb 7, 2027

The Gesualdo Six · The Royal Conservatory of Music

Past events

Jul 23, 2025

Songs From Home – Origin III · Gstaad Menuhin Festival

Mar 23, 2025

Helvetia · Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim

About

Othmar Schoeck hasn't added a bio