30 years of Orchestrina Chur: Anniversary with world premiere by Gassmann
The Orchestrina Chur, consisting of around 25 string players, celebrated its 30th anniversary at the beginning of February with the world premiere of "Bernina Express" by Robert Gassmann.
It has been 30 years since the Orchestrina Chur was founded in the summer of 1994 by a small group of musicians together with conductor Heinz Girschweiler. Since then, the Orchestrina has grown and the association now consists of around 25 amateur string players. Ruth Michael has been concertmaster since the orchestra was founded and has played a key role in shaping the orchestra.
Until 1999, the choir worked closely with the St. Martin choir in Chur. Even then, the activities for the parish were supplemented by its own concerts. Since the Orchestrina separated from the church, two to three concert programs have been performed each year. In 2013, cellist Anita Jehli took over the direction of the Orchestrina. She was already known to some of the orchestra's musicians and was therefore approached without further ado. She originally agreed to a project and has fortunately remained with the ensemble to this day. As a cellist, she can always give the right tips and practical solutions to "typical string" difficulties.
Haydn, C. P. E. Bach and world premieres
In 2016, she conducted the orchestra from the cello for the first time in a cello concerto by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. An experiment that was repeated in February 2023, to mark her tenth anniversary as conductor of the Orchestrina: there with the Cello Concerto by Camille Saint-Saëns, which was played in an arrangement for string orchestra and solo cello. A very special concert that will be remembered by everyone involved! Just like the project Four seasons from June 2023, in which the Orchestrina, together with the Tanzerina, a ballet school from Chur, will perform Vivaldi's Seasons performed.
Special programs have also been put together for many anniversary concerts. In 2014, for example, concertmaster Ruth Michael played a violin concerto by Joseph Haydn to mark the 20th anniversary. In 2019, Mario Giovanoli composed the work for the 25th anniversary of the Orchestrina Fire, earth, air and silver. The Orchestrina also celebrated its 30th anniversary with a work composed especially for it: Bernina Expresscomposed by Robert Grossmann. At the beginning of February, the Orchestrina performed Gassmann's new work in three anniversary concerts in various Graubünden municipalities.
It is very important to Orchestrina Chur to promote soloists and composers from the canton of Graubünden and to offer them a platform. Thanks to Anita Jehli's many program ideas, exciting and varied programs will continue to be heard in the future, which both listeners and players can look forward to!
