Great Musical Academy

Description

Beethoven – Vision Ninth The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis embarks on a sound trail search: During the fall semester 2026/2027, the focus of the classes is on performance practice aspects of Ludwig van Beethoven's music. The opening takes place on September 19 at Don Bosco with the choral fantasy op. 80, performed by students of SCB and the Classical Institute HSM Basel. From October to December, Beethoven academies with lectures by renowned scientists follow. Musical contributions from students frame the evenings; a subsequent aperitif invites the audience to exchange with the participants. The highlight is the concert of the Freunde Alter Musik Basel on January 15, 2027, featuring the performance of the 9th Symphony op. 125, in reference to the original concert program of its premiere in 1824. Beethoven combined the symphony with excerpts from the Missa solemnis op. 123 and the overture "Die Weihe des Hauses" op. 124. An international project is being developed together with the Classical Institute of the Hochschule für Musik Basel, the Freiburg Choral Academy, and the Juilliard School New York. An important approach of the Schola is based on historically verified musical leadership models, including cooperative leadership forms where concertmaster and conductor share artistic direction and are complemented by other functional roles. Rehearsals in quartet formation and the inclusion of boys' voices in the choir are also part of it. Accompanying this is a specially designed newspaper (four times), inviting for in-depth and further reading. Interested parties can subscribe: beethoven@mab-bs.ch Focus Beethoven: Music | FHNW With kind support from the Claudine and Hans-Heiner Zaeslin-Bustany Foundation. Participants and additional information: Schola Cantorum Basiliensis FHNW | Juilliard School | Classical Institute of HSM Basel FHNW | Freiburg Choral Academy. A core team around Howard Arman (guest), Amandine Beyer (concertmaster), Federico Sepúlveda (choral director), and Christian Hilz (vocal coach) works closely with faculty members of the Schola (Georges Barthel, Antoine Torunczyk, Carles Cristobal, Jean‑François Madeuf, Petr Skalka, David Sinclair, Alexandre Zanetta, Catherine Motuz) together. Orchestra (SCB/Juilliard), project choir (SCB/Classical Institute), rehearsed by a team around Martin Wettges and Federico Sepúlveda, and soloists (SCB / Classical Institute / Juilliard) jointly shape the project.