Welcome!
Here you will find up-to-date information about our concerts, who we are, and what we do. There is plenty of parking available around the concert hall in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The hall also offers a wide selection of food and wine at the Union restaurant. Additionally, you can stay affordably at the 4-star Art Deco Hotel Athmos, just a 3-minute walk from the hall. Another 3-minute walk takes you to the SBB La Chaux-de-Fonds train station. BLS offers a direct train to Bern (1 hour). You can also take a bus or postal bus (available at the station) for a comfortable and eco-friendly ride to Neuchâtel. From Neuchâtel, you can access various trains to Lausanne, Geneva, Fribourg, Zurich, Basel, and St. Gallen.
What to expect
The Société de Musique La Chaux-de-Fonds is delighted at the prospect of welcoming you on October 20 and 21, 2024, for the very first concert of the “Nouveaux Talents” series in collaboration with RTS.
For young talents to thrive on major stages, they need visibility and experiences that allow them to engage with the public and the media. The aim of the “Nouveaux Talents” series is to provide an exceptional platform for the best of them. In collaboration with the Société de Musique La Chaux-de-Fonds, RTS Espace 2 offers eight opportunities per year to discover those who will be the stars of tomorrow.
Further information about these concerts can be found below. You will have the chance to exchange a few words with Michael Barenboim during the break when he will be signing his CDs. This is an informal way to meet the artists in a friendly atmosphere.
Do you enjoy the concerts of the Société de Musique La Chaux-de-Fonds? Do you have suggestions, questions, or things you’d like to share with us? Write to us at .
Take advantage of it!
The “Nouveaux Talents” series offers concert tickets for young artists, winners of international competitions, at prices ranging from 10 to 30 CHF at the Salle de musique. The instruments and programs offered are rare and invite discovery. It’s an opportunity to support the stars of tomorrow in a legendary acoustic setting!
Anna Gafia Egholm on October 20 at 5 PM
Anna Agafia Egholm, a Danish violinist trained in Lausanne and Sion, is recognized for her captivating playing and exceptional mastery of the bow. A laureate of prestigious international competitions such as Singapore, Nielsen, Tibor Varga, and Gstaad (Thierry Scherz/Claves Prize), she has collaborated with renowned musicians like Renaud Capuçon and the Hagen Quartet. She will be accompanied by Sergei Redkin, a pianist from Krasnoyarsk, who has distinguished himself on the international scene by winning major prizes, including a bronze medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition, and regularly performs with renowned orchestras and festivals.
Program for October 20, 2024, 5 PM at the Salle de musique in La Chaux-de-Fonds:
- Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): Sonata No. 2 in G Major, M. 77
- Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924): Sonata No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 108
- Lili Boulanger (1893-1918): 3 Pieces for Violin and Piano
- César Franck (1822-1890): Sonata in A Major, HN 293
Ravel composed his Sonata in G Major over four years. He premiered it with Georges Enescu on the violin in Paris in 1927. Fauré was 72 years old when he composed his second sonata, which he dedicated to Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, one of his most enthusiastic admirers. In contrast to her sister Nadia, who lived for 97 years, Lili Boulanger had a tragically short career. Her lung problems frequently interrupted her work, and she died at the age of 24. César Franck’s Violin and Piano Sonata is one of the great works of French chamber music.
This concert will be without intermission and will last approximately 75 minutes. It will be broadcast on the radio.
Season opening concert and gala evening at the Salle de musique on October 21 at 7:30 PM – Swiss exclusive.
The concert will spotlight Michael Barenboim, an internationally renowned soloist and first concertmaster of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, composed of Israeli and Palestinian musicians, and a teacher at the Barenboim-Said Academy created by his father, the famous pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim. He will be accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Jena, conducted by Simon Gaudenz. This German orchestra, founded in 1934, is renowned for the transmission of musical knowledge. Barenboim’s talent and virtuosity, combined with the orchestra’s commitment, promise a captivating performance, with works such as Erich Korngold’s Violin Concerto, marked by its Hollywood influences, and Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, composed during his exile in the United States. This concert, a Swiss exclusive, is a musical event not to be missed.
Program for October 21, 2024, 7:30 PM at the Salle de musique in La Chaux-de-Fonds:
- Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): Overture “Carnival” Op. 92
- Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957): Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
- Béla Bartók (1881-1945): Concerto for Orchestra Sz. 116
Erich Wolfgang Korngold, son of the Viennese music critic Julius Korngold, was one of the most remarkable child prodigies of the 20th century. His opera Die tote Stadt was phenomenally successful. Forced into exile by the Nazi terror, he became one of the most important film composers in Hollywood. After the war, he returned to Europe and used themes from his film music in his Violin Concerto. Bartók was also living in exile in the USA when he composed his Concerto for Orchestra (1943-1945), a kind of symphony that offers many opportunities for solos by the members of the orchestra.
This concert will have an intermission. It will be rebroadcast on the radio.
Information
The Société de Musique of La Chaux-de-Fonds informs you of the next two concerts in the “Grande Série”: on November 8, 2024, the soloists of the Menuhin Academy, conducted by Oleg Kaskiv, accompanied by pianist Anastasia Voltchock, will be featured (Mendelssohn), followed by Il Pomo d’Oro and soprano Julie Fuchs under the direction of Francesco Corti on November 27, 2024. The artists of November 27 have chosen to modify their traditionally baroque program with grand opera arias and instrumental music by Handel and Vivaldi. You can find the revised program titled Amour Sacré – Amour Profane by clicking HERE. A grand evening is in store!
Find detailed programs and seating plans below by clicking on the links or on our website www.musiquecdf.ch.
The Société de Musique de La Chaux-de-Fonds reminds you that it is still possible to subscribe to the 132nd season and informs you that its general program and season spot are available!
Members and subscribers receive it automatically. Don’t hesitate to let us know if you would like to receive it as well. In the meantime, you can view it HERE. And as good news never comes alone, you can watch our season spot HERE.
The season will begin on October 20 at 5 pm for New Talents and on October 21 for the Grande Series with an orchestral concert on October 21 at 7:30 pm. A newsletter dedicated to these two concerts will be sent to you very soon.
Do you enjoy the concerts of the Société de Musique de La Chaux-de-Fonds? Do you have any suggestions, questions, or things to tell us? Write to us at
Don’t miss it!
The New Talents series offers concert tickets for young artists who are winners of international competitions from 10.- to 30.- at the Salle de musique. The instruments and programs offered are rare and invite discovery. The opportunity to support tomorrow’s stars in a legendary acoustic setting!
For the season presentation, please click here (in 3 languages).
Highlights of the season 2024-2025:
- Six orchestras including two philharmonic orchestras
- A piano recital with a rising star on the international scene
- Two young winners of major competitions
- A young violin star that the world is clamoring for
- Two stars of the operatic stage
- Chamber ensembles and orchestras of great tradition
- Renowned soloists and conductors of international stature
- An unprecedented trio with a violin star created for the Music Society
- The return of a legendary violinist to the Salle de musique
- The return of the OSR in full force with a masterful program
- A quartet of young stars
- An ensemble from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
- Piano, violin, cello and voice take center stage
- Youth, tradition and a great love for music
- Come experience exceptional concerts in a legendary acoustic setting
Experience exceptional concerts in a legendary acoustic setting!
These events confirm our commitment to offering high-quality musical experiences.
Société de Musique de La Chaux-de-Fonds – 131 years of history!
In 131 years of history, the Société de Musique de La Chaux-de-Fonds has invited many musicians from around the world, sometimes oppressed or even victims of the vicissitudes of history. The canton of Neuchâtel, the Neuchâtel Mountains, and the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds (birthplace of Le Corbusier, whose mother was a co-founder of our society) have been and remain welcoming lands for populations fleeing war, injustice, or famine. Our society has witnessed many torments that it has been able to overcome, notably through music.
Camille Saint-Saëns, Eugène Ysaÿe, Pablo Casals, Alfred Cortot, Paul Hindemith, Clara Haskil, Dinu Lipatti, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Arthur Rubinstein, Mstislav Rostropovich, Martha Argerich, Alfred Brendel, Menahem Pressler, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Barbara Hendricks, Maxim Vengerov, Vadim Repin, Grigory Sokolov, Fazil Say, Renaud & Gautier Capuçon, David Zinman, Truls Mørk, Christian Tetzlaff, Christophe Prégardien, Piotr Anderszewski, Giuliano Carmignola, Sol Gabetta, Emmanuel Pahud, Rafal Blechacz, Alexandre Tharaud, Khatia Buniatishvili, Alexandre Kantorow, Edgar Moreau, Julian Prégardien, and many other legendary figures of classical music from yesterday and today have come to our mountains at the invitation of the Société de Musique de La Chaux-de-Fonds.
The Société de Musique is one of the few societies of its kind still existing in Europe today. Through its existence, it has contributed to putting “La Chaux-de-Fonds on the world map” and highlighting the Salle de musique, its precious working tool, of which it has been the tenant for more than half a century. It has a rich historical past that gives it notoriety, and it perpetuates this tradition through its programming, making it an essential organization of the canton.
Main Series:
- Monday, October 21, 2024, 7:30 PM, Salle de musique:
Michael Barenboim (violin), Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Simon Gaudenz.
Program: Antonín Dvořák – Overture “Carnival” op. 92, Erich Wolfgang Korngold – Violin Concerto in D major op. 35, Béla Bartók – Concerto for Orchestra Sz. 116. - Friday, November 8, 2024, 7:30 PM, Salle de musique:
Anastasia Voltchok (piano), Solistes de la Menuhin Academy, conductor Oleg Kaskiv (violin).
Program: Felix Mendelssohn – Symphony No. 9 “La Suisse”, Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Orchestra in D minor MWV 04. - Wednesday, November 27, 2024, 7:30 PM, Salle de musique:
Julie Fuchs (soprano), Il Pomo d’Oro, conductor Francesco Corti.
Program: Excerpts from Vivaldi, Graun, Rinaldi, Giai, Leonardo, Manna, Galuppi, Araja, Zellbell. Replaced by “Amour profane, Amour sacré” – Vivaldi & Handel. - Sunday, December 15, 2024, 5:00 PM, Salle de musique:
Claire Huangci (piano, Géza Anda Prize), Brahms Ensemble Berlin.
Program: Johannes Brahms – Piano Quintet in F minor op. 34, Franz Schubert – String Quartet No. 12 “Quartettsatz”, Robert Schumann – Piano Quintet in E-flat major op. 44. - Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 7:30 PM, Salle de musique:
Lucas Debargue (piano).
Program: Gabriel Fauré – 9 Preludes op. 103, Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor op. 90 and Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight Sonata”, Frédéric Chopin – Scherzo No. 4 op. 54 and Ballade No. 3 op. 47. - Friday, February 7, 2025, 7:30 PM, Salle de musique:
Regula Mühlemann (soprano), Basel Chamber Orchestra, conductor Michele Spotti.
Program: Excerpts from Rossini – Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Le Comte Ory, Il Turco in Italia, Bellini – Symphony in D, I Puritani, Delibes – Sylvie, Donizetti – La Fille du régiment, Lucia di Lammermoor, Verdi – Macbeth. - Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 7:30 PM, Salle de musique:
Vilde Frang (violin), Valeriy Sokolov (violin), Lawrence Power (viola).
Program: Eugène Ysaÿe – Sonata for Two Violins, Bjarne Brustad – Capriccio for Violin and Viola, Zoltán Kodály – Serenade for Two Violins and Viola op. 12. - Friday, March 14, 2025, 7:30 PM, Salle de musique:
Gidon Kremer Trio, Gidon Kremer (violin), Giedre Dirvanauskaite (cello), Georgijs Osokins (piano).
Program: Franz Schubert – Notturno op. 148, Giya Kancheli – Middelheim, Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Trio No. 7 op. 97. - Friday, April 4, 2025, 7:30 PM, Salle de musique:
Alexandre Tharaud (piano), Quatuor Arod.
Program: Felix Mendelssohn – String Quartet No. 3 op. 44, Béla Bartók – String Quartet No. 6 Sz. 114, Gabriel Fauré – Piano Quintet No. 1 in D minor op. 89. - Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 7:30 PM, Salle de musique:
Daniel Lozakovich (violin), Neuchâtel Symphonic Ensemble, conductor Victorien Vanoosten.
Program: Joseph Haydn – Symphony No. 88, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Violin Concerto No. 3 K. 216, Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”. - Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 7:30 PM, Salle de musique:
Michiaki Ueno (cello), Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, conductor Jonathan Nott.
Program: Dmitri Shostakovich – Cello Concerto No. 1, Igor Stravinsky – Petrushka (original version of 1911).
RTS New Talents Series 2024-2025
- Sunday, October 20, 2024, 5:00 PM, Salle de musique
Anna Egholm (violin), Sergei Redkin (piano).
Program: Maurice Ravel – Sonata No. 2 in G major, Gabriel Fauré – Sonata No. 2 in E minor op. 108, Lili Boulanger – 3 Pieces for Violin and Piano, César Franck – Sonata in A major. - Sunday, November 24, 2024, 5:00 PM, Salle de musique
Donatien Bachmann (bassoon), with violin, cello, percussion.
Program: Chick Corea – Armando’s Rhumba, Daniel Schnyder – Bassoon Concerto (world premiere), Astor Piazzolla – Oblivion, C.P.E. Bach – Sonata in A minor, Pierre-Max Dubois, Richard Galliano. - Sunday, December 8, 2024, 5:00 PM, Salle de musique
Julien Beautemps (accordion).
Program: J.S. Bach – Passacaglia and Fugue, Erwin Schulhoff – Symphony No. 2 (arrangement), Mozart – Requiem (excerpts), original compositions and other works. - Sunday, February 9, 2025, 5:00 PM, Salle de musique
Sophie Negoïta (soprano), Jansen Ryser (piano).
Program: Grieg, Sibelius, Saariaho, Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann – Liederkreis, Nocturnes, and others. - Sunday, March 9, 2025, 5:00 PM, Salle de musique
Amia Janicki (violin), Kojiro Okada (piano).
Program: Grieg – Sonata No. 2, Fauré – Sonata No. 1, Messiaen – Thèmes et Variations, Enescu – Impressions d’enfance. - Sunday, March 23, 2025, 5:00 PM, Salle de musique
Tjasha Gafner (harp), Aurore Grosclaude (piano).
Program: Marcel Tournier, Ravel – Ma mère l’Oye (arrangement), Renié, Flothuis, Rachmaninoff. - Sunday, May 4, 2025, 5:00 PM, Salle de musique
Héléna Macherel (flute), Jean-Sélim Abdelmoula (piano).
Program: Mozart – Sonata K. 304, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Richard Strauss – Sonata op. 18. - Sunday, May 18, 2025, 5:00 PM, Salle de musique
Iris Scialom (violin), Antonin Bonnet (piano).
Program: Fauré – Sonatas No. 1 and No. 2, Ravel – Posthumous Sonata, Enescu – Sonata No. 2.
Organ:
- Sunday, January 5, 2025, 5:00 PM, Salle de musique:
Jean-Luc Thellin (organ), Sara Gerber (piano).
Program: Bach – Concertos for Two Keyboards BWV 1060, 1052, 1062, 1061.
Collaborations:
- Saturday, November 2, 2024, 4:00 PM, Salle Faller:
Concert of the Neuchâtel Music Conservatory (CMNE) with young talents.
6:00 PM: Maurice Duruflé – Requiem op. 9, conductor Nicolas Farine.
8:00 PM: Solem Quartet, works by Janáček (String Quartet No. 2) and Schubert (String Quartet No. 14). - Thursday, April 3, 2025, Centre de culture ABC:
Screening of the documentary Ménage à quatre about the Arod Quartet and interview with Bruno Monsaingeon.
We look forward to seeing you! See you soon!
