Swiss Symphonic Music

In 1932, the Swiss musicologist Antoine-Elisée Cherbuliez published the first book to offer a comprehensive history of Swiss music, entitled "Switzerland in German Music History". At the very least, his title suggested that Swiss music is impossible to contemplate and to explain except as part and parcel of the music history of Germany. So is Swiss music really nothing more than a minor footnote to the culture of its bigger neighbour to the north?

In fact, Switzerland most definitely has its own Classical and Romantic composers: they've just been long neglected. The Swiss Orchestra was founded to change this situation, to raise their profile and to provide them with the platform that they deserve. The concerts and recordings of the Swiss Orchestra are bringing this cultural heritage to life.

Here, you can gain insights into the life and works of selected Swiss composers. One thing is certain: Switzerland boasts many composers from the Classical and Romantic periods who are more than just part of a bigger, European history of music. They've also enriched it, each with their own distinctive contribution.