BASEL SINFONIETTA

A Swiss orchestra founded in 1980 in Basel by a group of young musicians for the purpose of familiarising audiences open to experimentation and new types of sound with new music works. Its shows involve the participation of dancers, jazz musicians, and choirs, as well as silent lm projections and multimedia. The Sinfonietta is Switzerland’s only orchestra that has been invited four times to participate in the Salzburg Festival. They have also played at the International Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt, Lucerne Festival, Venice Biennale, Musica Festival in Strasbourg, Festival d’Automne in Paris, and Kunstfest Weimar. The Sinfonietta has appeared under conductors such as Stefan Asbury, Fabrice Bollon, Dennis R. Davies, Mark Fitz-Gerald, Jürg Henneberger, Peter Hirsch, Michael Hofstetter, Johannes Kalitzke, Karen Kamensek, Jun Märkl, Emilio Pomárico, Kasper de Roo, Jonathan Stockhammer, and Lothar Zagrosek. Its collaborations with leading composers have led to more than 160 world and Swiss premieres of new works. The ensemble also takes part in educational projects.