25 November 2005
Dear Friends,
As we approach the year's end, may we, in extending our best wishes for the festive season, thank you for your continuing support for the Foundation during the past twelve months. It has helped us immensely in continuing to expand our activities, extend the scope of our programming of events, and above all underline our raison d'être, the unearthing, showcasing and development of exceptional young talent in many artistic fields.
This expansion is set fair to continue in the coming year--of which more later.
Looking back at the most recent events, it is no exaggeration to to say that they combined the highest standards of performance with variety and artistic impact and gave all who participated a myriad of memorable moments, while the social contacts among our growing international circle of Friends were equally convivial.
On a delightful pre-autumnal evening in September, we returned to L'Hermitage Foundation in Lausanne, for an event combining the visual, decorative and musical arts "Creativity at the turn of the 19th century--Caillebotte and Fabergé", with a visit to the remarkable exhibition of the work of the impressionist painter Gustave Caillebotte, a cocktail interlude, followed by a lecture by Tatiana Fabergé, great grand daughter of the legendary jeweller Carl Fabergé on the Fabergé heritage, most notably the astonishing series of Easter eggs produced for the Russian Imperial family. A recital of Russian songs and piano pieces by Alexandra Sherman (mezzo-soprano) and Vanya Cohen (piano) rounded off the event.
Shortly afterwards, and with the sponsorship of Investec Trust, we organised an event at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel du Rhône in Geneva, where variety of creative expression was again the order of the day, with thrilling performances by the talented young Geneva soprano, Catherine Torriani, the Basel marimba duo, Martina Balz and Silvio Wey of and the dancers Kathryn Bradney and Igor Piovano, formerly of Bejart Ballet Lausanne and now independent artists. A dinner concluded the evening and our thanks go to our friends at Investec Trust, with whom we hope to plan additional events in the future.
Early in October, we made a happy return to the sylvan oasis of peace and beauty that is the Château de Montcaud, near Avignon, in Provence, for the second edition of our Jours des Arts. This time, the theme was "Romanticism" and it has to be said that the lovely setting and fine weather, the performances and lectures by a bevy of international artists, the gourmet dining and wine tasting and the good fellowship of all participants, several who had come from as far as Australia and the United States as well as from Europe, together with the attentive personalised service from owner and advisory board member Rudy Baur and his team, all combined to underline the theme and add up to an outstanding experience.
Young musicians performing included Vanya Cohen (piano), Amanda Favier (violin), Marie-Stéphanie Janacek (cello), Simon Zaoui (piano) and (a newcomer to our concerts) the remarkable young French flautist Clément Dufour, playing with the leading French harpist Isabelle Perrin. Clément, who first came to our attention the previous year, was to confirm his already exceptional gifts a few weeks later by winning the first prize in the Jean-Pierre Rampal competition in Paris, the world's leading competition for the instrument, and seems set fair for a brilliant career.
Established musicians who embellished the event were pianists Jay Gottlieb and Tamás Ungár--who combined his Chopin recital with a lecture on the composer--and the tenor Mark Milhofer, who in addition to his fine recital, enlivened a relaxed and romantic dinner with songs from the great musicals. Poetry readings and lectures by advisory board members Peter Tregear and Tim Hunter, George and Sheila Drapeau and our public relations advisor Michael Green punctuated the musical interludes.
We will return to Montcaud for the third edition of Jours des Arts from October 5 to 8 next year, when the theme will be "Impressionism". A special package for this event will shortly be sent to our members and we hope that many will attend.
Our series of events linked with celebrities who lived in Switzerland and are buried here began last year with the actor James Mason and continued earlier this year with ceremonies honouring the centenary of the birth of the author Graham Greene, who is buried in Corseaux cemetery. Recently it was the turn of another Hollywood star, the Welsh actor Richard Burton. We celebrated what would have been his 85th birthday with a dinner in his favourite restaurant at Céligny, the village which was his home for over 20 years, and where he is buried. Michael Green charted the often turbulent life and times of this remarkable actor, whose legend lives on strongly today. We will continue this celebrity series during the coming year.
The University of York, England, has the largest musical department of any university in the United Kingdom and much of its development is due to the generosity and support of one of our patrons, Jack Lyons. We were therefore honoured to be invited to organise a concert there on November 9th in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall. A varied line up of international young talent, including Australians Andrew Day, (flute) and Stephen Delaney, (piano), the Lausanne pianist Antoine Rebstein, and the British bass-baritone David Stout, accompanied by Annabel Thwaite, and a wide-ranging repertoire, was hugely appreciated by the large and discerning audience.
Before the concert, the University kindly organised a reception in honour of the Foundation, and Roger Marsh, head of the music department expressed the wish that the event would be the start of a continuing and fruitful collaboration. A sentiment with which we readily concur.
We will be returning to the magnificent medieval Château de Lucens, in the canton of Vaud, for a Christmas cocktail and soirée on December 10th, 2005 The Château is not open to the public and we are most grateful to the kindness of the owners in giving us special permission to hold this event. An invitation with programme is attached to this mailing and we hope to see as many of our Friends and supporters as possible to ring out with bravura what will have been the most active and successful year since the Foundation began in l999.
We also attach a renewal subscription form for your membership for the coming season in four categories. It has been said before, but in view of the already advanced plans we have, we'll say again "the best is yet to come".
We look forward to sharing the excitement with you.
With best regards
Heather de Haes