Going back to the Swiss Radio-Geneva sessions circa 1951 this weekend, with the legendary Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, led by Edmond Appia, the music of Swiss-French composer Pierre Wissmer.
Wissmer was active up until his death in 1992. He composed a large quantity of music and has been highly regarded in Music circles in France and Switzerland.
His Le Bal Chez Sylvie had its premier in 1945 with the Suisse Romande, conducted by Ernest Ansermet. It’s typical of the work of Wissmer, imaginative and highly expressive. I am not sure there is a commercial recording of this work. There is currently a 5-CD box set of Wissmer Symphonies currently available from Naxos. So it would be safe to say the work of Pierre Wissmer hasn’t fallen into neglect, as so many others have.
But this work still has yet to see a commercial recording. And maybe that might change at some point. In the meantime, here is what may be the only recording of Le Bal Chez Sylvie, performed by Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under Edmond Appia, and recorded by Swiss Radio at their Geneva studios.
Enjoy.
Thanks Gordon for that post. A special one indeed: I met several times Wissmer, a wonderful person. I also performed many times his music, always so well written !!
Perhaps I can post one of your concerts sometime? It would be nice to hear updated versions of many of these pieces – I’m sure the audience would like to hear them as well.
thanks so much Gordon !!! So nice of you. Let us keep in touch about this…….I will try to find a concert I am happy with enough !
Excellent!