Tribute to Paul Sacher

Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 7:00 pm

Starting from CHF 15.-

Tickets available online or on site on the day of the concert

Between the dreamlike Spain evoked in his Trois Danses and the refined rigor of his Petite Symphonie concertante, Frank Martin reveals his taste for sonic invention and rare instrumental colors. In counterpoint, Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta—an unclassifiable masterpiece—resonates with echoes of folk music through its richly layered polyphonic writing. A programme shaped by the innovative spirit of the renowned patron and conductor Paul Sacher.

CLARISSE MOREAU, oboe

LOUIS SCHWIZGEBEL, piano

CONSTANCE TAILLARD, harpsichord

PROGRAM

FRANK MARTIN - Trois danses

BÉLA BARTÓK - Musique pour cordes, percussions et celesta

FRANK MARTIN - Petite symphonie concertante

Performance running time : 1h30 without intermission
Doors open at 4:30 PM

Frank Martin composed the Trois Danses for oboe, harp, and strings in 1970 at the request of Ursula and Heinz Holliger, who premiered the work on October 9 of the same year in Zurich under the direction of Paul Sacher. The three movements evoke Spain: the first, Seguiriya, references the vocal style and rhythmic patterns of flamenco; the second, Soledad (“solitude”), has the character of a written improvisation; the third, Rumba, draws on the rhythms of the Cuban dance. Martin’s youngest daughter, Teresa, had discovered a true talent for flamenco dancing, which likely explains the Spanish inspiration behind this quasi-concerto for oboe, harp, and strings.

Béla Bartók composed his Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta in 1936; it was premiered in Basel on January 21, 1937, under the direction of Paul Sacher, to whom the work is dedicated. It stands as one of the composer’s masterpieces, escaping the dominant neoclassical aesthetic of the time while pursuing formal rigor shaped by folk-inspired material.

Frank Martin’s Petite Symphonie concertante dates from 1944–1945; it was commissioned by Paul Sacher, who premiered it in Zurich in 1946. The work follows in Bartók’s footsteps, with its original choice of solo instruments and the division of the string ensemble into two groups that respond to one another. Martin also explores rare sonorities, with textures that range from delicate to incisive. The use of Baroque continuo instruments as soloists was a suggestion by Sacher himself.

Starting from CHF 15.-

Tickets available online or on site on the day of the concert

Stay updated on the Odyssey!

Sign up now to receive the latest news directly to your inbox.

Press area

INFORMATIONS & ACCESSIBILITÉ

For any information, especially regarding individuals with reduced mobility and their companions, please contact us at:

 accueil@odysseefrankmartin.ch or by telephone at 00 41 78 754 24 77

Tjasha Gafner

harp

Born in Switzerland in 1999, harpist Tjasha Gafner studied at the Juilliard School in New York with Nancy Allen after completing her master’s degree as a soloist with Letizia Belmondo at the Haute École de Musique de Genève. In 2024, she completed her master in pedagogy at the Haute École de Musique de Genève with Sandrine Chatron.

She is a laureate of numerous national and international competitions, including first places at the Felix Godefroid International Harp Competition (Belgium, 2012), Suoni d’Arpa (Italy, 2014) and the Martine Géliot International Harp Competition (France, 2016). In 2021, she won the Max D. Jost Prize, as well as the Leenaards Cultural Grant. Within ten years she has received more than 20 awards.

Since the age of ten, she has performed in Germany, France, Hong Kong, and many other countries, and has appeared as a soloist with the Kammerorchester der Bayrischen Philharmonie, the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, and the London Mozart Players. She regularly performs with various ensembles on an international level and also contributes to the expansion of the harp repertoire with her own transcriptions.

For her outstanding performances, she was awarded both first place and the audience prize at the 72nd International Music Competition 2023 in Munich.

Orchestre Frank Martin

scenography

The Frank Martin Orchestra, conducted by Thierry Fischer, is a collaborative ensemble that brings together accomplished musicians from major orchestras in the Lake Geneva region and outstanding freelance artists. With an emphasis on inclusivity, the orchestra is not only a platform for seasoned professionals but also welcomes aspiring talents, including students from Geneva’s Haute école de musique.