25 September 2002
Dear Friends,
I am delighted to welcome you to our newly-formed circle, The Friends of the Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation in Switzerland.
Within a month of its inception, our numbers are already nearing a hundred--people interested in the goals of the Foundation, its talented young artists and its series of cultural events.
As you are aware, the Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation exists to encourage closer bonds between the cultures of Switzerland and the United Kingdom--two countries which have always enjoyed strong connections and friendship. We hope to promote an even more internationally-aware face of Switzerland and will do this through a discerning selection of artists and by developing concert venues which will be of significant interest and "difference".
I would like to summarise briefly where our events have been held over the past two years. Our first event was held at Agnews Gallery in Old Bond Street, London, followed by one at Anton Mosimann's Dining Club--the Belfry, in Belgravia. Many successful London events followed, including a memorable gala evening at Spencer House and several recitals at the residence of the Swiss Ambassador, Mr Bruno Spinner.
The Foundation's events in Switzerland have included two large concerts at the Beau Rivage Hotel in Lausanne, several smaller events at the Villa Kruger in Clarens/ Montreux as well as concerts in private homes. The concert at the Beau Rivage in February this year was attended by the British Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr Basil Eastwood.
I have attached a list of artists whom the foundation has presented, for your information. For instance the concert at the Beau Rivage in February featured the Mondrian Ensemble from Basel, the pianist Dmytro Sukhovienko, resident in Vevey, the mezzo-soprano Michaela Oberndorfer, also from Basel and the British guitarist Simon Dinnigan. We also displayed the water-light sculptures of the Swiss artist Housi Knecht.
Another landmark event for the Foundation was a concert given in the magnificent Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca on March 25 this year, in the presence of the King and Queen of Spain and to an audience of 5,000. The Swiss soprano Delphine Gillot performed Paul Patterson's Te Deum with the Orquestra Simfonica de Balears "Ciutat de Palma" under the baton of Geoffrey Simon, who is one of the Advisory Board members of the Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation.
The Foundation also made possible a guest appearance by the Swiss conductor Olivier Cuendet (resident in Lausanne) with the Orquestra Simfonica de Balears "Ciutat de Palma". The major work on Mr Cuendet's programme, given in the Palma Auditorium, was Stravinsky's Petrouchka. Earlier in the season, British guitarist Simon Dinnigan gave two performances of the Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez with this orchestra, conducted by Geoffrey Simon, under the auspices of the Foundation, in beautiful Baroque churches in Ibiza and Bunyola.
The Foundation's growing relationships with orchestras now extend as far as Seattle, on the north-west coast of the USA. In July it supported Delphine Gillot's apearance as soprano soloist in Mahler's Fourth Symphony with the Northwest Mahler Festival Orchestra and Geoffrey Simon.
Forthcoming Events
The Friends of the Anglo-Suisse Foundation will hold its first social event of 2002-2003, a cocktail reception and musical soirée, at the lovely Villa Kruger in Clarens/ Montreux on Thursday, October 3, at 6:30 p.m. The performers will include the Babajenian Piano Trio (talented young Armenian musicians currently studying in Sion), the Pits (six male members of the a capella vocal group Tenebrae) and guitarist Simon Dinnigan.
In December please note two outstanding evenings :
1. In conjunction with the Victor Salvi Foundation, the world's leading organisation for the promotion of the harp to a wider audience, there will be a harp recital and a lecture given on the instrument, together with a gala reception, at the Villa Principe Leopoldo in Lugano, recently selected as Switzerland's "Hotel of the Year". An exhibition of harps from the unique collection of the Salvi Foundation will form a part of this event (December 12).
2. The second concert will be a Christmas candle-light event and I will advise you of the date as soon as possible. It will feature Tenebrae, the a cappella vocal ensemble headed by Nigel Short, which is based in Villars. The concert will include Benjamin Britten's renowned Ceremony of Carols and traditional European Christmas music.
As a Friend of the Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation, you will be sent formal invitations to all of these events, and you will enjoy priority seating reservation.
All in all, we are busy, motivated and energised by your support. Thank you!
Special Thanks
I would like to thank my friend Karin Ducrey, who when I first arrived in Switzerland offered invaluable assistance in launching the Swiss chapter of the Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation, in Lausanne. I would also like to thank Michael Green, international author and journalist, who has joined the Foundation as Public Relation Advisor, and Sabine-Hélène Green, whose administrativeand language skills have proven invaluable to the Foundation.
My warm thanks to Gideon Bronkhorst and Jacob Meirig, who together run the Villa Kruger, and have offered tremendous support to the Foundation over the past two years.
My friend and colleague, Jackie Rosenfeld OBE, co-founded the Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation with me in London in October 1999 and carried it through to its charitable status. The author, Alain de Botton, who kindly spoke at one of our premier events in London, and the Swiss cultural counsellor in London, Wolfgang Amadeus Bruelhardt, for his support and encouragement.
Finally, many thanks to our Patrons, Anton Mosimann and Sir James Galway. Sir James, who was recently knighted for his services to music and has lived for many years in Meggen, on Lake Lucerne, writes:
"I am delighed to have been invited to support the Foundation. Its Anglo-Swiss aspect is mirrored in my own life, and its aims perfectly reflect the encouragement and practical support we all know is needed by young artists at the start of their careers."
With warmest regards,
Heather de Haes