The Swiss Woodwind Quintet was founded in Basel in 1985 and quickly established themselves as one of Europe's top chamber ensembles. Their repertoire encompasses the well-known woodwind repertoire from the Classical and Romantic as well as avant-garde pieces by such contemporary composers as Daniel Weissberg and Jost Meyer.
Already after their first concerts, invitations to give concerts started to pour in from various international festivals and concert series, frequently combined with masterclasses on the interpretation of wind chamber music, which they often still do in Switzerland, Germany and France.
In addition to many performances outside of Switzerland, the quintet maintains a high profile in the active musical life of Basel where, besides being involved in the production of many performances for the radio, they perform at least half a dozen concerts each season, often inviting outstanding assisting chamber musicians such as Werner Giger, Gerard Wyss, Michiko Otaki, and F. Duchable.
In 1993 the Swiss Woodwind Quintet recorded its first CD of works by Hindemith, Francaix, Ligeti and Zemlinsky for the Claves Switzerland label, and they also recorded works of Juon and Huber with pianist Michiko Otaki.
The ensemble's first American tour in 1994 included performances in New York, Atlanta and Miami among other cities.
SWISS WIND QUINTET: REVIEWS
"These new performances are all excellent, the Swiss players seeming a well-balanced group.. . . Their earthiness of tone suited Mládi well.... What I particularly like [in Nielsen] is the Swiss Quintet's natural choice of tempos... They also clearly enjoyed themselves, relishing the gentle humor as well as the more raucous moments in the Hindemith and Ligeti. The Swiss [are] equal with the Berlin Philharmonic Quintet, though without the distracting action of the German player's instruments. As for the Ligeti, this is an electric account of the piece. Recommended."
GRAMOPHONE (August, 1997)
"The playing of the Swiss Woodwind Quintet is perfectly balanced between the instruments and has a most pleasing, tonal quality.. . With a wide dynamic range the musicians do everything possible to dress the Juon work in its most attractive garb ... and give a stunning account [of Huber], the final Allegro vivace con brio played with great happiness and enthusiasm. Michiko Otaki's participation is superb . . . exemplary balance between piano and woodwind. Enjoy discovering Huber."
FANFARE (October, 1998)
WIND QUINTET TURNS IN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE
"The players gave us a dignified, disciplined reading [of Beethoven's Quintet]. The first movement's light-hearted character, the elegance and simplicity of the Andante cantabile and the witty, spirited finale were performed with precision and masterful style. Otaki integrated the often virtuosic keyboard part with exceptional skill . . . The players adroitly passes the [Hindemith's] opening movement's jaunty melodic fragments back and forth with precision and delightful effect. The artists achieved some of their most impressive playing in conveying the colorful textures and solemn lyricism of the third movement. The rhythmic complexity and requisite virtuosity of the work's two concluding movements were handled with remarkable technical control and brilliance. An energetic and colorful performance of Villa-Lobos . .. performed with much tension-building excitement and exotic flavor. A lavish, abundantly lyrical performance of Thuille's Sextet found all six players in splendid, communicative form, and brought the highly satisfying program to a close. The audience, the largest of the season for a chamber music program, responded with generous applause." Savannah Morning News (1994)
SWISS WIND QUINTET SHOWS SHARP FOCUS
"The lean, sharply focused tone of the Swiss Wind Quintet worked to great advantage ... the players phrased and shaped the music (Rossini) like singers. The surprise pleasures of Cambini's Quintet resulted from the Swiss's interpretive understatement and the finesse with which they presented the succession of melodic and harmonic inventions. Tonal matching and precise ensemble made Milhaud impressive and a pleasure... a different and more intense spirit now animated the Swiss. Nielsen's Quintet was an unqualified success. The virtuosity of the players subtlety, tonal characterizations, and the quintet's easy way with the rustic sections made a refreshing and vivid performance. The enthusiastic response of the audience brought an encore." The Asheville Citizen (1994)
"A fine ensemble . . . an admirably well-tempered group with a potent sense of inner balance and the ability to move as a unit through infinitely tricky and various musical terrain. Their attack is bracing and precise, the sound dynamic, even brawny at times compared to other European groups. The opening work (Beethoven Piano Quintet) was a perfect showcase for their many virtues . . . the close sympathy of the players allowed the more profound subtext of the material to emerge gradually. The group was very fortunate in their choice of a pianist. Michiko Otaki is a wonderfully articulate player with a refined touch and an intuitive sense of her place in an ensemble."
The Star-Ledger (1994)
Wind Chamber Music of High Level
"The performance was convincing, often striking and acute, in every aspect. The musicians achieved a wonderfully beautiful sound with highly selective tonal quality and colorful intensity." Neue Züricher Nachrichten
Precise and Emotional Musical Experience
"The Swiss Wind Quintet consists of very willful personalities, which feel right at home in bringing out special, individual abilities. What is remarkable is that this quality never stands in the way of the unity of the ensemble . . . The Quintet interpreted the piece ingeniously, supplely, and the final allegro was wholly impressive with its polish and temperament, colorfully intensive, supple, and with homogeneous ensemble. The extremely intensive, often passionate, and at the same time poetic and lyrical interpretation was fascinating, and was enthusiastically received by the audience." Landboten Winterthur
The High Artistry of the Swiss Wind Quintet
"The Engadiner Festival offered two evenings of special charm. The Swiss Wind Quintet painted a colorful palette of delightful music, which is seldom heard in the spectrum of chamber music . . . wind ensemble of the highest quality was displayed. The musical vitality and artistic nobleness, attested to by long applause . . . a celebration of their triumph!" Engadiner Post
Gems of Woodwind Music
". . . remarkable sense of tone, detailed finish, flawless breathing technique and dexterity of fingers . . ."
Bündnerzeitung
"The five musicians have proved themselves once again through their precise ensemble and seldom-heard tonal balance." Basler Zeitung
"Certainly one of the best ensembles of this genre . . executed with absolute skill and masterly vigour."
Neue Züricher Zeitung
"Interpreters who have excellent command over their instruments, with stylistic awareness of the performance of all wind quintet music, evidenced by extremely apt tonal variation." Berner Zeitung
A Musical Delight
"Precision and fine balance. They had the full command of the complex timbre of a wind quintet, and took full advantage of it . . . The virtuosity of each player and the delight with which they performed gave the audience an unforgettable listening pleasure." Oltner Tagblatt
With Inspired Perfection
"No less perfect and vivacious was the wind ensemble, who gave life to Beethoven's unmistakably rustic vigor as well as the expressive pathos of the solo voices in the Andante cantabile. Mozart's Divertimento followed, in which the musical performance was full of delicate and imaginative sound." Der Bund, Bern
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