| Geneva and music |
History |
History |
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One
of the first memorable events of Geneva’s musical was the introduction
of hymns and metrical versions of the Psalms by the architects of the
Reformation. All Anglo-Saxon Protestants know the famous Old Hundredth
from the Marot and Beza Psalter, published in Geneva in 1532 and set
to music by Bourgeois and Goudimel. The Swiss city influenced British
culture in a lasting way, since the national anthem God Save the Queen
is modelled on a popular song celebrating the victory over the Escalade
and with it Geneva’s independence. Geneva International
Competition - www.concoursgeneve.ch Grand Théâtre
:
The decision to build a new theatre on Place Neuve was taken in 1860.
The architect Jacques-Elisée Goss then put forward plans inspired
by the newly opened Palais Garnier in Paris. Construction was completed
in 1876 and the venue opened in 1879 with Rossini’s Guillaume
Tell [William Tell]. In 1951 a terrible fire devastated the theatre’s
stage and the theatre did not reopen until 1962. The new theatre, with
seating for 1500, is now covered by a starry ceiling that extends from
its fire curtain, both of which were designed by artist Jacek Stryienski.
The size of the orchestra pit, the expanse of its open spaces and the
sophistication of its machinery enable this theatre to host performances
of all kinds and works from all periods. Le Bâtiment des Forces Motrices : Devised by engineer Théodore Turrettini, this L-shaped industrial building was built between 1886 and 1892 on the Rhône. The factory allowed the driving force of the water to be used, the level of the lake to be controlled and the canton to be supplied with drinking water, until 1963. In 1988, the building was listed and in 1997 it was converted into a theatre to host the outside-the-walls season of the Grand Théâtre, closed for renovation. Under the direction of architect Picenni, the theatre has been designed like a box placed inside the building. It has over 900 seats, an orchestra pit and a very deep stage. Today, the Opéra de Genève continues to perform operas, baroque works, dance performances and recitals. www.bfm.ch Victoria Hall : Between 1891 and 1894, Sir Daniel Barton, a wealthy English consul in Geneva and great music lover had the Victoria Hall built which remained under his ownership until 1904 when, shortly before his death, he gave the building to the City. The auditorium with its exceptional acoustics and equally exceptional neo-baroque decoration seats 1850 people. Over two thousand artists, orchestras and choirs have performed here since its opening. Today, the Victoria Hall is dedicated essentially to classical music and plays host to the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.. www.ville-ge.ch/vh/ The Orchestre
de la Suisse Romande (OSR): Founded in 1918 by Ernest Ansermet,
with the aim of providing the French-speaking part of the country with
a symphonic orchestra, the OSR is supported financially by the municipalities
of Geneva and Lausanne. The ensemble was integrated with the French-language
Radio, which gave it an audience that it had not previously enjoyed.
On his death in 1969, Ansermet was succeeded first by Paul Kletzki,
then by Wolfgang Sawallisch. They were followed by Horst Stein in 1980,
the late lamented Armin Jordan and today it is Marek Janowski who has
led the orchestra since 1 September 2005. The Orchestre de Chambre de Genève (The OCG): Founded in 1992, the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève makes its name year after year as a top-class chamber orchestra. Michael Hofstetter, at the head of the ensemble since 2001, succeeded Thierry Fisher and Lev Markiz. Giving priority to a repertoire that extends from late baroque to the romantic period, the music is performed on historic instruments. However, the OCG does not restrict itself only to the repertoire of the past and also tackles contemporary pieces. Established in Geneva, the ensemble performs a strong season of six to seven concerts each year in the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices. www.locg.ch |
Geneva
developed and established itself internationally, between French, German
and Swiss territory.
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In the course of the 19th century and early 20th century, Geneva welcomed many political refugees, the most famous of them Lenin, who lived there from 1903 to 1905 and again in 1908. The International Committee of the Red Cross was founded in 1864, at the initiative of Geneva resident Henry Dunant. This institution is just the first in a long list of major organisations that the town has accommodated. The international mission of Geneva became established after the First World War, when it was chosen as the headquarters for the League of Nations which later became the United Nations Organisation.
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Geneva
: between
Calvin and Liszt
Some
Highlights / Food & Drink / Things to Do / Web Sites
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Museum of Art and History: Built between 1903 and 1910, the museum boasts a collection that reflects the whole of Western culture from the origins of the world to the present day, divided into three major sectors: Archaeology, Fine Art and Applied Art. International Museum of the Red Cross: Geneva is the birthplace of the Red Cross. This is the only museum in the world entirely devoted to the work of Henry Dunant, founder of this institution. Opened in 1988, it describes the extraordinary venture of men and women on their mission in the service of humanity for over 140 years. Rath Museum: This is one of the first Swiss museums devoted to Fine Art. Opened in 1826, this building, donated to the people of Geneva by Jeanne-Françoise and Henriette Rath, was designed by the architect Samuel Vaucher. The museum hosts interesting temporary exhibitions. Museum of Natural History: This is the biggest museum of natural history in Switzerland. The museum has an 8,000 m² exhibition gallery and receives over 200,000 visitors every year. MAMCO: Opened in September 1994 in a former factory, the Mamco exhibits a wide choice of works from the early 1960s to the present day. Its installations, videos, paintings, photographs and sculptures come from public and private collections, donations, artists’ trusts and acquisitions. Ariana Museum: The museum houses the City of Geneva’s prestigious collections of ceramics and glass. With over 20,000 objects, the collections illustrate seven centuries of creativity. The principal techniques are represented here. Martin Bodmer Foundation: One of the most important private libraries in the world, it reflects the adventure of the human spirit from the origins of writing onwards. With a collection of 160,000 items in approximately 80 languages, it has several hundred Western and Eastern manuscripts, among them one of the rare copies of the Gutenberg Bible. In February 1971, just before his death, Martin Bodmer decided to convert his library into a Foundation under private law, a recognised charitable institution. International
Museum of the Reformation: The International Museum of the
Reformation presents the Reformation instigated by Jean Calvin. Amidst
objects, manuscripts, paintings, engravings and the latest audiovisual
technology, it recounts the saga of this movement that began in Geneva
in the 16th century and went on to become one of the great families
of Christianity.
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Hotels |
Domaine de Châteauvieux Auberge
de Confignon Auberge
de Floris
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| Web Sites |
| Official
City of Genève sites |