Jean-Claude Hulot is fond of Kaspar Zehnder’s enthusiastic communication by discovering Joseph Lauber’s symphonies.

Chief conductor Jonathan Nott’s passionnate and ingenious leadership are the basis of the first studio recording of Swiss composer Dieter Ammann’s symphonic works BOOST, TURN, CORE and glut together with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande– the first sessions in the Victoria Hall Geneva have been made possible thanks to Frédéric Angleraux‘s idea to use plexiglass walls and special curtains in order to embellish the acoustic conditions of this historical concert hall. Release in autumn 2023.

(credits Magali Dougado)

From the jury’s comment (Julia Kaiser): Characterized by work-in-progress: this positive impression is conveyed by the BlattWerk Quintet. Only in the moment of playing do these musicians seem to reinvent what they put into the music in terms of colors and impulses. Everything is cleverly arranged, and yet offers plenty of discoveries. The arrangement of Ravel’s “Ma Mère l’Oye” seems like a picture book in pastel tones, opening the senses to all the air formations and suspensions, to which Walter Feldmann gives figure in the title work: “figurations de mémoire” is a Hubble telescope for ears, through which one can listen into deep black holes.

Congratulations to the Sinfonie Orchester Biel Solothurn and Kaspar Zehnder for 6 nominations (symphonic recording of the year, orchestra of the year and world premiere recording of Joseph Lauber’s symphonies), the Berne Symphony Orchestra, Gilles Vonsattel and Mario Venzago (concerto recording and instrumentalist of the year for Leimer/Strauss’ concertos for left-hand) and BlattWerk Quintett as ensemble of the year, chamber music recording and world premiere recording of the year.