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The Story of Ernest Ansermet and the OS Beginner’s luck can start How does a young math teacher and further assisted by my natural inclination off a career. But in the long musical autodidact get to conduct the to reverie and contemplation, which are run, fortune favours the world premieres of Stravinsky’s Pulcinel- the sources of music.“ Christian Rintelen bold: The story of Ernest la and L’histoire du Soldat, Prokofi ev’s Despite growing up in a musical fami- Ansermet and the OSR. Buffoon, Falla’s Three Cornered Hat and ly, he studies mathematics and physics many others of the period’s most im- at the university of Lausanne. Barely 20 portant ballets? How is it possible that years old, Ansermet fi nishes his scholas- When your editor asked me to a provincial orchestra from Switzerland write about the OSR, I couldn’t tics with a diploma and starts to teach becomes one of the world’s most famo- math. In 1905 he moves to Paris with the help but ask back „you mean us despite being „second-rate in tone about Ansermet?“ I didn’t try to intent to do his doctorate at the Sorbon- and technique“ (James Reel)? And ne. In hindsight it must be considered be smart or funny. It’s just that right on topic for this magazine: great luck that he discovers and explo- the stories of the OSR and An- Why are some of the most highly res Paris’ thriving musical life instead of sermet are closely linked. Very praised and best sounding LPs closely even—which is hardly of all times performances of An- pushing his PhD. He meets a lot of in- surprising as Ansermet was not sermet and the OSR recorded by teresting people, among them a fellow only the founder, but also the Decca in Geneva’s Victoria Hall? by the name of Francisco de Lacerda, orchestra’s principal conductor Intriguing, to say the least… whom we’ll meet again soon. He enjoys for half a century. (A smart-aleck Paris for one year and returns to Vevey answer would have been to ask without academic merits. He marries Reverie and contemplation your editor which OSR I was to Marguerite Jacottet and resumes his write about — the Orchèstre Ernest Ansermet was born on Novem- job as math teacher in Lausanne. But his Symphonique Romand or the ber 11, 1883 in Vevey, Switzerland—a soul was lost – or sold? –, and in 1909 he Orchèstre de la Suisse Roman- small town on the shores of Lake Gene- decides to fully devote himself to music. de. But I chose not to nit-pick. va and now known as Néstlé’s home turf. He travels to Germany and studies some After all, Ernest Ansermet foun- His father was a geometer, his mother a of the greatest Kapellmeister of his time ded both of these OSRs. First teacher. She also played the piano and — Richard Strauss, Arthur Nikisch and the Romand, then the Roman- gave little Ernest his fi rst piano lessons. Felix Mottl — rehearsing with their or- de.) Ansermet remembers: „Music has been chestras. Watching other conductors at my fi rst vocation. My mother’s piano work was more or less his only educati- Neither did I ask the really inte- playing and my father’s singing helped on as a conductor, he was pretty much resting questions. Because they me fi nd an easy access to music already an autodidact who taught himself the art surfaced only later. For instance: in my childhood—and the access was of the baton. innerWORLD 18 nro 3/2007 innerWORLD 19 suisse Beginner’s luck Marne battle. Number three: The Swiss vinsky for advice — and Back home he studies Cari Ehrenberg’s Army declares Ansermet unfi t for servi- Stravinsky recommends rehearsals with the Orchèstre Sympho- ce. his friend Ansermet, who nique de Lausanne — and it is with this Ansermet can’t live without conduc- was available because orchestra that he will give his debut on ting and forms his fi rst OSR (Orchèstre of WW1 incident number March 15, 1911, conducting works by Symphonique Romand). Against all odds 3. Ansermet toured all Beethoven, Debussy, Bach and Ja- and despite massive problems — it was over the world with the ques-Dalcroze. He is 26 years old and probably not the best of all times for highly regarded ballet; the critics are very encouraging. Later new orchestras… — the OSR plays 12 the Ballets Russes US- in the same year, the conductor of the concerts in 1914. But Ansermet has to tour in 1916 was a tour Orchèstre du Kursaal de Montreux falls teach math again to survive. But not for de force with no less ill. His name is Lacerda — remember Pa- long: On Christmas day 1914, Bernhard than 105 performances ris? Ansermet substitutes for three con- Stavenhagen dies, the conductor of the in as many days. Touring certs and receives rave reviews. When Société des concerts abonnement de South America, Anser- Lacerda resigns in 1912, Ansermet is ap- Genève (subscription concerts). Anser- met was offered the task pointed as his successor. In the same met is asked to substitute for one con- of forming Argentina’s year and by coincidence he cert scheduled less than a month later. national orchestra literally meets a young Russian compo- He accepts and again receives rave re- from scratch. He couldn’t ser backstage after one of his views. And like in Montreux, Ansermet is resist, the challenge was concerts. His name is Igor Stra- offered the job for which he substituted. too tempting… vinsky, and their meeting will not Ansermet, the super sub? First he pro- On his travels with the only be the beginning of a lasting fi ts from Lacerda’s illness, then from Ballets Russes Ansermet friendship but probably also the Stavenhagen’s death… But he declines got to know the world, single most important moment and the world got to know for Ansermet’s career. the offer. An actof reverence? Hardly — he quite simply had a much better offer. him. He became fami- Two years later in 1914 a devastating liar with the music of the war begins that will envelope nearly all of contemporary Russian Europe. And even though Switzerland is Stravinsky’s recommendation composers and premie- spared, WWI nevertheless triggers three Remember Pierre Monteux, number 2 red many of their works. incidents that will have a major impact on of the three WW1 incidences? Before Performing in Paris, he our young conductor’s future. Number being sent to the trenches, we was the befriended Debussy and one: the Montreux Kursaal Orchestra is conductor of Serge Daghilev’s famous Ravel and consulted with disbanded and Ansermet is without a Ballets Russes, who now needs a new them on how to perform job. Number two: the French army drafts conductor for his company’s upcoming their music. Pierre Monteux and sends him to the tours. Daghilev asks his compatriot Stra- innerWORLD 20 nro 3/2007 innerWORLD 21 suisse suisse A man on a mission mances notable for their clear textures The stubborn diplomat festival. Butwhere? Lucerne comes He could have committed himself permanently and delicate timbral balances“—per- Ansermet has been described as ar- to his mind; the city that he considers to Daghilev’s company. But Ansermet wanted formances „that cut right to the heart Montreux’s equivalent in the German- more than just to tour the world with the Ballets dent and vehemently arguing his opi- of the music“. nions. But he was also a highly intelli- speaking part of Switzerland. He pre- Russes. He was a man on a mission, his vision sented his concept to the mayor, who was to establish a strong musical tradition in the A Swiss conductor—and former gent person with impressive marketing math teacher! — being praised for qua- and diplomatic talents. When the rivalry realised the potential and supported Suisse Romande (the French-speaking part of the idea. Bingo: the Lucerne Festival Switzerland, approx. 30% of the population). lities like accuracy and precision? Talk between the cities and cantons of the about clichés! But Ansermet achieved Romandie began to threaten his OSR, was born (initially called Internationale He wanted to have his OSR again. „You must Musikfestwochen). The festival’s fi rst be mad to return to Geneva and start your own these attributes under circumstances he conceived a plan that was just plain that were nothing short of amazing; brilliant: He formed chapters of the ever concert in July 1938 was perfor- orchestra! Be warned that cities with a popula- de in Geneva’s Victoria Hall. The program of med by Ansermet conducting an or- tion of less than 500 000 are too small to keep the fi rst half consisted of works from Händel, and despite Geneva being the city of Association des Amis de l’OSR in Lau- Rolex and Patek Philippe, Ansermet’s sanne and Geneva, the two cities that chestra with a considerable number a high class orchestra alive!“, he was told by Mozart, Brenner and Jaques-Dalcroze. The se- of musicians from the OSR. (It certainly Coope, an experienced Russian conductor. But cond half was devoted to Rimsky-Korsakov’s days must have had much more than enjoyed most of the OSR’s live per- 24 hours. Or is there another explana- formances. He then invited the public helped the festival’s meteoric rise that Ansermet had done his math and replied that Sheherazade (which Ansermet also performed Arturo Toscanini accepted the invitati- the Suisse Romande was more than the equi- on the OSR’s golden jubilee concert 50 years tion for how he successfully performed and businesses to join the associati- the tasks of three demanding fulltime on and contribute fi nancial support to on and left his exile in the US just to per- valent of a city with half a million inhabitants.
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    Suite from The Firebird Igor Stravinsky erge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes made a of time, turned instead to the aspiring young Sspecialty of dancing pieces that were in- Stravinsky. Eager to capitalize on this break, spired by Russian folklore, and The Firebird Stravinsky immediately dropped what he was was perfectly suited to the company’s designs. working on, installed himself in a dacha be- The tale involves the dashing Prince Ivan (oth- longing to the family of his late teacher Nikolai erwise put, Ivan Tsarevich), who finds himself Rimsky-Korsakov, and turned out his spark- one night wandering through the garden of ling score in short order, between November King Kashchei, an evil monarch whose pow- 1909 and March 1910, with final orchestrations er resides in a magic egg that he guards in an and retouching continuing until May. elegant box. In Kashchei’s garden, the Prince A French critic reported his experience of captures a Firebird, which pleads for its life; hearing Stravinsky play through his work- the Prince agrees to spare it if it gives him one in-progress that winter in St. Petersburg: of its magic tail feathers, which it consents to do. Thus armed, the Prince continues through The composer, young, slim, and uncommu- his evening and happens upon 13 enchanted nicative, with vague meditative eyes, and princesses. The most beautiful of them catch- lips set firm in an energetic looking face, es his eye, and (acting under Kashchei’s spell) was at the piano. But the moment he began lures him to a spot where Kashchei’s demon- ic guards can ensnare him.
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