TSO shows a passion for discovery on its 125th +1 anniversary

The emotional states and mood swings of the musicians of the Thun City Orchestra when discussing the realization of their anniversary project. The Big Wig (The big wig) could probably best be compared with those of marathon runners before, during and after the competition: during preparation, sometimes despair and fear of not making it, then euphoria and an irrepressible will to persevere; during the event, full concentration and absorption in the moment; after the work is done, a mixture of pride in having achieved something special, satisfaction and the need for rest, as well as "never again" thoughts and the simultaneous search for the next challenge.

In fact, for its 125+1 year anniversary - the project had to be postponed for a good year due to the pandemic - the TSO gave itself a gift with the performance of The Big Wig together with the singer and exceptional vocal artist Andreas Schaerer and his band "Hildegard Lernt Fliegen" (Hildegard Learns to Fly). Starting with the fact that the one-hour work for voice, jazz sextet and symphony orchestra with six thematic movements requires a huge orchestration that is unusual for classical orchestras - it requires eight percussionists alone.

Composition commissioned by Lucerne Festival for the first time with amateur orchestra

Schaerer had The Big Wig The work was commissioned by the Lucerne Festival in 2015 and premiered in the same year together with the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, which specializes in contemporary music. Since then, Schaerer and his band have presented the work with several orchestras and at various venues in Switzerland and abroad - including the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. The name The Big Wig refers to the old, overpowering composers with their gray wigs, who were clearly breathing down Schaerer's neck while he was composing.

In Thun, Schaerer and his five bandmates have The Big Wig is now being performed for the first time with an amateur orchestra. And the large audience in the Schadausaal at the KKThun was treated to a truly extraordinary concert experience at the start of the subscription season in September.

The atmospheric colored light that enveloped the musicians on stage was just a small hint of the "otherness". Schaerer melts into The Big Wig through-composed-orchestral classical music and impulsive-spontaneous jazz into a new sound language. What's more, his multifaceted performance as band and orchestra leader, vocal acrobat, singer and storyteller gives rise to an original art of performance.

The highlight of the highlights, however, is the "Human Trumpet", which Schaerer repeatedly "plays" with his voice in a deceptively genuine way, full of tenderness and with a broad soul - and in doing so makes the essence of his art tangible for a brief moment: the inseparable unity of masterful virtuosity and touchingly revelatory depth.

Review of the successful marathon project

After the two intensive concerts, the EOV editor spoke to TSO President and cellist Christina Froidevaux about the successful marathon project.

Christina Froidevaux, how did the collaboration with Andreas Schaerer and his band "Hildegard Lernt Fliegen" actually come about?

A violinist from the TSO knows Andreas Schaerer and had The Big Wig once live. He suggested the collaboration to our orchestra. However, I wasn't part of the decision-making bodies when it was selected. The project should have been realized more than a year ago and had to be postponed due to the pandemic.

What was it like rehearsing with Andreas Schaerer and the whole band? What were the challenges?

It was extremely exciting! Andreas told us a lot about the work and also gave us a lot of other input. He and our conductor Laurent Gendre harmonized extremely well, which made it easy for us. On the one hand, playing with the band was easier than the previous rehearsals without them, as the more difficult rhythms almost always occur in the band, but on the other hand it was also difficult, especially with the solos, because the band members naturally took a lot of rhythmic liberties there. I think that was also a challenge for Laurent, as he's not used to it.

Did the other players like it?

We had fewer applications than usual for this project. (Editor's note: the musicians from the TSO's pool of players register for any number of the five subscription concert projects before the season). I also sensed a certain skepticism among those who signed up at the beginning. But by the week of the concert at the latest, the spark was ignited in everyone. I saw a lot of smiling faces - more than usual. Perhaps people simply dare to show their emotions more with this music. Perhaps we were infected by the extroverted singer. In any case, I hope that this will have a lasting effect!

Are you happy with the result?

Yes, we are very satisfied. It was a completely new experience that was also good for the whole orchestra. At the same time, we're also looking forward to playing music again, where you can express yourself on your own instrument. We cellists, for example, played more plucked instruments and percussion than cello.

After the Big Wig experience, would you do a similar project again in the future?

Sure, but not immediately. Inflation is not good. Unfortunately, there aren't a thousand such works that would be suitable and interesting. It wasn't a conventional crossover with the songs of a band accompanied by an orchestra. The Big Wig was composed orchestrally right from the start, which makes a huge difference.

How big was the audience? I had the impression that there were more people in the hall when I went to the concert than at your "normal" subscription concerts?

The Schadausaal was almost full twice. Not only did more people come, other people came too. And the audience was much younger than usual. But I also received a lot of positive feedback from older people and subscribers. I was particularly pleased about that.

> www.thunerstadtorchester.ch

> www.hildegardlerntfliegen.ch