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Baroque Music from the Chiquitanía - Bolivia

Name: Baroque Music from the Chiquitanía - Bolivia
Start: 2026-10-24T18:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-24T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Guthirtstrasse 3, 8037 Zürich, Switzerland

Guthirtstrasse 3, 8037 Zürich, Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland
Sat, October 24, 2026 (6:00 pm - 7:00 pm)

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Description

A musical journey of discovery to Bolivia: As part of a Vespers service, works by the Swiss Jesuit Martin Schmid (1694-1772) are performed, which were created in the Chiquitanía, in the eastern lowlands of Bolivia. Father Martin Schmid worked there as a church and instrument builder, music teacher, and composer. His legacy lives on to this day: every town has a music school; children and young people play Baroque music from this period. The wooden skeleton churches are part of the UNESCO World Heritage and were also restored by the architect Hans Roth (1934-1999), also Swiss. During the restorations at the end of the last century, music scores were found, which were published by the Polish musicologist Pietr Nawrot. The music of Martin Schmid is typical of the Baroque music of that time. Strongly influenced by the Italian composer Domenico Zipoli, himself a Jesuit who died in 1726 in Cordoba, present-day Argentina. The polyphonic works are interpreted by soloists Joëlle Delley Zhao, Benoit Volkart, Bo Zhao, and Fabrice Hayoz. They are accompanied by musicians from the Ensemble Baroque du Léman and Philippe Despond on the organ. The musical direction is by the Freiburg musician Thierry Dagon. The audience also becomes part of the musical event: they are invited to sing along with simple Gregorian interludes. At the beginning of the celebration, there is a playful warm-up singing session.

Highlights

Performance of works by Jesuit Martin Schmid
Performers: Joëlle Delley Zhao, Benoit Volkart, Bo Zhao, Fabrice Hayoz
Audience is invited to sing along with Gregorian chants

General Information

The concert takes place at the Roman Catholic parish center Guthirt in Zurich and presents Baroque music from the Chiquitanía in Bolivia. Under the musical direction of Thierry Dagon, polyphonic works are performed, strongly influenced by the Italian composer Domenico Zipoli.