New Gstaad riding center soon to come - GstaadLife print edition

Friday, August 8 2008
No. 15
gstaadlife.com
Gstaad Palace to
run local pub
Philippe Bach
Conducting
throughout Europe
■ by Phil Linder
At the end of August, Richi
and Christine Pernet will
conclude their business as
restaurant managers of Café
Pernet and Richis Pub. The
Gstaad Palace will carry on
the business in the same style
until spring, when the
building will be pulled down.
The new owners plan to tear
down the current building
and build a new restaurant.
Last winter the land belonging to
Café Pernet and Richi’s Pub was
sold to long time guests of Gstaad.
The new owners plan to replace
the present building with a new
continued on page 3
Saanen’s toblerone
landscape – update
on the bypass
■ by Tim Kilchenmann
Giant toblerone bars and
massive potato fi elds are the
images marking the landscape
around Saanen. What might
be misinterpreted as the
removal of a mountain, is
actually part of an ecological
sustainability process that is
guiding the Saanen bypass
construction.
page 7
Ruth Hung-von Siebenthal
Committing to
new riding center
page 1/3
Walfred Conci
Holidays for
dogs
Gstaad riding center on its way to the future: although delayed, the project for a new riding
center has been approved by the Reit- und Fahrverein Gstaad-Saanenland.
New Gstaad riding center
soon to come ■ by Greg Zwygart
The construction of the new riding center has been delayed for more than a year due to the
lack of funds and sponsors. The process was stalled after a sponsor abandoned the project
causing the Reit- und Fahrverein Gstaad-Saanenland to call for a special meeting of the
General Assembly. While reassessing the situation, Marcel Bach announces the latest news
on the new riding center.
Originally, the riding center was meeting of the General Assembly. room for the horse feed. The
supposed to open in the winter of The original dimensions of 25 by center will also include a small
2007 but with one of the main 50 meters has been reduced to 25 apartment and studio apartments
sponsors dropping out, the project by 44 meters, and despite intensive for the supervisors and employees.
has been delayed. Marcel Bach, location scouting, the planned “To avoid excessive costs, there
André König is the environmental head of what was originally location in Mettlen remains the will be no underground parking,”
engineer supervising the named the Reitzentrum Gstaad same. Next to the twenty seven says Bach.
development of the new road in AG, introduced the new concept horse stalls there will be a saddling
continued on page 3 of the riding center at the special chamber, wash area and storage
continued on page 3
page 6
Photo: Phil Linder

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Phone 033 744 50 51 Fax 033 744 27 37
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Exclusively in our shop, you will find fragrances
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I will gladly take your reservation under the
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Friday, August 8 2008 · gstaadlife.com
Page 3 Local news
New Gstaad riding center soon to come: continued from page 1
They do not predict that the cost
of the services will increase. “We
don’t want to create a two-class
riding society,” says Bach, “we
want locals and visitors alike to
keep their horses with us, just like
the old riding center.”
Although the new riding center
will be built in Mettlen, grazing
fi elds and other facilities for
interacting with the horses will be
in the “Gschwend” across the
Saane River. A wooden bridge
will connect the two focal points.
Ueli Bach, brother of Marcel
Bach, is the owner of the
“Gschwend” will provide the
grounds, by means of a long term
lease. “I am not involved in the
negotiations with my brother.
This is the business of the project
managers,” assures Bach.
When the old riding center is torn
down, a provisional shed will be
erected for the horses until the
new building is complete. Bach
also states that the riding paths
will be expanded. “A good riding
center requires better riding
paths,” says Bach.
Drastic changes have been made
to the original concept of the
project, the changes do not effect
Gstaad Palace to run local pub: continued from page 1
building in the traditional style of
the area. The current owners
Richi and Christine Pernet will
resign at the end of August.
Same style until demolition
As written in a press release of the
Gstaad Palace, the new owners
highly appreciate Gstaad and
Saanenland and they recognize
the importance of providing a
place where the menu is affordable
and local residents can socialize
regularly. They acknowledge the
importance of the two bars and
are willing to continue what is
presently offered, i.e. a pub and a
café at an affordable price. The
new owners became partners with
the Hotel Palace in Gstaad. The
management of the fi ve star hotel
have agreed to continue running
the physical building itself. Instead
of establishing a company called
the Reitzentrum Gstaad AG, Bach
now envisions a trust fund to be in
charge of the project. The trust
fund will consist of fi ve members,
one of whom will be a
representative of the Reit- und
Fahrverein. Bach himself will
assume presidency for the fi st
term. “The trust fund will only be
established if the main construction
contract and the building itself can
be transferred to the fund,” says
Bach depending on the impending
vote of the General Assembly.
Total investment in the project
should amount to SFr 8.7m, out of
which SFr 7.2m will be used for
construction and half a million for
operating funds. According to
Ernst Voegeli, the current
supervisor of the old riding center,
there will be a defi cit in the fi rst
year of operation. After that, the
new riding center will break
even.
“Out of the SFr 8.7m, fi ve million
has been guaranteed,” says Bach.
In the following weeks he will
continue to look for sponsors.
Bach emphasizes that he prefers
to use the term sponsor rather
than investor, as they are investing
Café Pernet and Richis Pub in
the same style until its demolition
in spring 2009.
Restaurant also for the locals
The business in the new building
will cater especially to local
customers. It means a lot to the
new owners, as well as the new
operator, to provide a meeting
point for the local population as
well as for the employees in the
tourism and business sector.
New staff required
As this solution has only been
found recently, most of the present
members of staff have already
found new jobs. Management is
currently seeking new personnel
to continue business without
interruption.
“à fond perdu” – in an investment
without return.
When they submitted the plans for
the riding center, three objections
were fi led, one of which has been
withdrawn. Negotiations with the
other two have been held and
contracts have been set up but
have not yet been signed.
Votes were in favor of the new
riding center. Members of the
board approved the transfer of the
property to the future trust fund
40 votes to 1, with one abstention.
The board also voted in favor
of removing all liability
and responsibility from the
board concerning the future
development of the new riding
center. The board is looking
for two new members for 2008
/2009.
Reit- und Fahrverein president
Ruth Hung-von Siebenthal assures
the association’s commitment to
the project, although the board
would like some tangible dates or
written statements from the
construction committee. In case
the new riding center won’t be
realized in the near future,
necessary renovations and
investments to the existing riding
center will have to be assessed. “As
owners of the current riding
center we are responsible,” she
says. An update on the
new riding center and its next
steps is expected at the end of
this fall.
based on a report by Anita Moser
Until now only the model of the new riding center gives a
picture of how it should be looking.
The present building will be pulled down in Spring 2009 and
will be replaced by a new restaurant.
Photo: MMD Photo: Phil Linder

Local news
gstaadlife.com · Friday, August 8 2008
No crisis in the Saanenland microcosm
Unlike many other observers
the Saanen Bank does not
share the view that the current
subprime disaster is necessarily
leading to a global economic
meltdown. One has to admit
that the most recent published
economic data outside of the
US has not been as bad as one
might expect.
It goes without saying that the
current fi nancial markets and its
analysts are too focused on current
market actions and distracted by a
volatile atmosphere in specifi c
industries. They do not seem to
realize that not every US Citizen
is a bad mortgage borrower.
Having said that, not every
country on the planet is reliant on
exports from the US. There are
hundreds of millions of consumers
in the emerging markets who have
not been affected by this subprime
disaster at all. So let’s stay realistic
and keep in mind that we are not
traders but investors.
One has to understand that
economically Saanenland is
operating in a kind of microcosm.
The nature of a microcosm is such
that it follows its own rules.
Certainly a global depression
would have a signifi cant impact
on Saanenland. However, as
pointed out earlier, this is not a
scenario we would be considering
at all. The real challenge for
Saanenland will be to prepare
for the mega-trends of the
tourism industry as a whole, such
as globalization, change in values,
scarcity of resources, as well
as the mega-trend of changing
demographics. If you get ahead
of these trends, this would
have more signifi cance than an
actual downtrend in the world
economy.
Saanen’s toblerone landscape – update on the bypass: continued from page 1
Saanen. He is responsible for many
of the aesthetic and environmental
concerns that surround the
construction of the new road.
During his weekly inspections,
particular attention is given to
water, air and noise pollution.
König works as an adviser to the
project and not the director. “This
approach allows me to suggest
unpopular but necessary measures
to the project managers,” he says.
König is especially pleased to have
implemented the noticeable soil
deposits throughout the building
site. The triangular shaped deposits
are ideal for keeping the soil fresh,
aerated and dry. Microorganisms
can continue to fl ourish and the
topsoil can be reused after the
construction period. Due to
Saanen’s landfi ll problems, König
As you may have noticed, the
Saanen Bank recently published
its semi annual results for 2008.
We are pleased to announce a
further growth in all key fi gures.
The Saanen Bank continues
to grow and is prepared for
the future. Unlike their main
competitors, they are in a good
position to attract a signifi cant
amount of new clients, increasing
their cash infl ow. As the Saanen
Bank mainly operates in
Saanenland, it has not been faced
with any kind of write-downs in
the subprime market nor has it
been investing in this specifi c
area.
Today the Saanen Bank offers
private banking in a neutral and
independent environment with an
innovative and knowledgeable
approach towards fi nancial
products. We have been able to
attract a large number of new
could do little to prevent
transferring the deeper soil layers
to Fribourg.
The careful management of the
landscape has many positive side
effects. For instance, König’s
measures will improve future
harvest yields. The landscape
reconstruction will use more
porous soil and this will
signifi cantly improve the marshy
Toblerone one shouldn’t eat: the deposits in Saanen keep the soil fresh, aerated and dry.
Photo: Ernst Hodel
Photo: FotoGstaad
Page 4
clients. This makes us quite
unique in the region and therefore,
more than just an alternative
address to our main competitors.
According to Toni Knecht,
Head Private Banking, the
Saanen Bank is more than just
an alternative to other
banks.
sections of the farmland. Another
example is the redevelopment of
the Bortgräbli riverbed. Clay
discovered beneath the
construction site, probably the
remains of a former glacial lake,
can be recycled to mould the
river’s new path.
The geological features of this area
are free of rocks and this
has kept noise emissions to a
minimum. However, dust remains
a carefully monitored problem.
One person is employed solely to
guarantee clean streets along the
site and some large machinery has
been replaced, due to insuffi cient
particle fi lters. The huge digger
machine had to have a SFr 30,000
fi lter fi tted.
Other investments include an
onsite weather station. Since soil
dampness affects the construction’s
environmental impact, the need
for accurate weather data is
indispensable. Statistics show that
Gstaad frequently reports rain,
while Saanen stays dry.
based on a report by Ernst Hodel

Photo: Ernst Hodel
Friday, August 8 2008 · gstaadlife.com
Page 5
Tourist falls off the Alpine Coaster
■ by Greg Zwygart
On July 27 2008, a 45 year old
Kuwaiti tourist fell from a car
on the Glacier 3000 Alpine
Coaster. The man was riding
the coaster with his child when
he was thrown from his seat
after a 520 degree loop. He fell
to the ground and rolled thirty
meters down the slope while his
child was securely fastened on
the coaster car. The police
investigation revealed that the
FYI
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Ambulance 144, Police 117
Fire-brigade 118
Saanen Hospital 033 748 02 00
Château-d‘Oex Hospital 026 923 43 43
Car accident service 033 744 88 80
Veterinary 033 744 35 31
Medical emergency 0900 57 67 47
Dental emergency 033 748 02 00
For additional useful numbers please visit
www.gstaadlife.ch/usefulnumbers
For the latest local weather forecast visit
www.gstaadlife.com/weather
CHURCH SERVICES
St Peter`s English-speaking Anglican
Church: Sunday August 10 17h30
Mr. John Dickson
Roman Catholic Church St Josef,
Gstaad: Saturday August 9 18h00
eucharistic ceremony. Sunday August 10
11h00 eucharistic ceremony, 16h00
Santa Misa (Spanish), 17.15 Sainte Messe
(French). Wednesday August 13, 16h30
Rosary, 17h00 eucharistic ceremony.
Friday August 15 8h30 eucharistic
ceremony, 16h00 Santa Messa (Italian)
man’s seat belt was not correctly
fastened. Fortunately, the
injuries were less severe than
initially expected and he was
able to leave the hospital the
following day. He suffered from
a brain concussion and severe
bruising. Since the accident
was not caused by technical
problems, the Alpine Coaster
was able to reopen two days
later.
FOR YOUR NEXT STAY IN GSTAAD
*****Gstaad Palace: Le Restaurant,
La Grande Terrasse, Snack & Barbecue,
The Lobby Bar, Le Bar du Grill & GreenGo
Nightclub, Beauty & Spa, Outdoor Pool &
Snack, Tennis. Tel 033 748 50 00,
Fax 033 748 50 01, info@palace.ch,
www.palace.ch
*****Grand Hotel Park, Gstaad:
99 luxurious rooms, exclusive Guerlain-
Spa Chakra, Restaurants & bars: Marco
Polo, Le Grand Restaurant, Greenhouse,
Chalet Waldhuus, Le Bar and Marco Polo
Bar. Tel 033 748 98 00
www.grandhotelpark.ch
*****Grand Hotel Bellevue, Gstaad:
GaultMillau Hotel of Year 2003, 114 beds,
2,500 m2 SPA, Restaurant Prado,
Restaurant Coelho with sun-terrace,
Bellevue-Bar, Porsche 911 Club,
Carnotzet. Tel 033 748 00 00
www.bellevue-gstaad.ch
FYI / Events
Wooden art as thin as air
■ by Greg Zwygart
Until August 17 2008, delicate
wooden bowls by Danish artist
Merete Larsen are on display in
the small garden Chalet at Chalet
Farb. What brings a professional
furniture restoration expert from
the fl atlands of Denmark to the
hills of Saanenland? “I love the
contrast between raw massive
wood and the transformation it
goes through on my work table,”
Larsen says. The artist feels that
■ FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 2008
15h00, Paper-cutting demonstration,
Chäller Galerie, Gstaad: Beatrice
Straubhaar, Lauenen, shows how
traditional paper-cutting is done. Info:
033 748 15 90.
20h00, Menuhin Festival concert,
Church Rougemont: Tout le monde du
violon V: Le grand fi nal.
Info: 033 748 83 38
www.menuhinfestivalgstaad.com.
20h30, Swiss folk music evening,
Hotel Wildhorn, Lauenen: Reservations
recommended. Info: 033 765 30 12.
■ SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 2008
Forest festival of Brass Band
Harmonie Saanen, Little forest across
from train station, Saanen.
Info: 079 669 50 03.
10h30, Menuhin Festival concert,
Chapel, Gstaad: Matinée with young
stars. Info: 033 748 83 38
12h00, Country music in Gsteig,
Camping Heiti, Gsteig: Honky Tonky
Pickers, barbeque. Info: 033 755 11 13.
15h00, Mountain paintings exhibition,
Museum der Landschaft Saanen, Saanen:
Bergwelt 2008. Until Oct. 5, closed
Mondays. Info: 033 744 79 88.
Glacier 3000 Run, Glacier 3000, Les
Diablerets: Premiere of this mountain
race. Info: 033 748 17 17.
in Saanenland wood is admired
in its purest form. In that
sense, Larsen’s art has found its
perfect home in the picturesque
little Chalet tucked in the
garden of Chalet Farb. Larsen’s
woodturning is so delicate, that
the thickness of the bowls are less
than one millimeter, indeed the
best contrast to the rustic wood
of the Chalet.
Info: 079 456 91 81.
Event corner Friday August 8 until Thursday August 14
18h00, Swiss folk music open air
concert, Restaurant Apple Pie, Gstaad.
Info: 033 744 56 39 or 078 860 22 30.
14h30, Kids race through Gstaad,
Kapälliplatz, Gstaad
19h00, BBQ with model railway group,
MOS Train, Saanen. Info: 033 722 25 52.
■ SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 2008
11h30, Menuhin Festival concert,
Mountain Restaurant Wispile, Gstaad:
Tout le monde du Violon VI - Trio Avodah.
Info: 033 748 83 38.
■ TUESDAY, AUGUST 12 2008
20h00, Menuhin Festival concert,
Church Lauenen: Beethoven Cycle: The
middle years, Leipzig String Quartet.
Info: 033 748 83 38.
■ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13 2008
09h00, Alp cheese tour with breakfast,
Alp Krinnen, Family Reichenbach, Gsteig.
Reserve until Tuesday 16h30 at Gsteig
tourism offi ce. Info: 033 755 81 81.
20h00, Menuhin Festival concert,
Lauenen church: Beethoven Cycle: The
middle years, Leipzig String Quartet.
Info: 033 748 83 38.
■ THURSDAY, AUGUST 14 2008
Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad, Aiport
Saanen: international polo tournament
with top-ranking players. Until Aug. 17.
Info: 033 744 07 40.
Photo: Tina Dosot

FYI
gstaadlife.com · Friday, August 8 2008
Page 6
Attention dog owners… ■ by Diana Oehrli
Registered residents of
Saanenland must pay an annual
tax fee for their dog. Since
January 2007, dogs are required
to have an implanted microchip
and must be registered with
the Animal Identity Service.
In the future, dog owners may
be obliged to attend a special
training course.
With its beautiful surroundings,
Saanenland is a natural place to
have a dog. The area offers
charming walks, free waste bag
dispensers and a lenient leash law
(dogs must be voice controlled).
The leash hooks outside of shops,
make trips to the grocery store
with a pooch a possibility. The
fact that most restaurants allow
customers to bring along their
furry four-legged friends makes
having a dog in Saanenland much
easier than in places such as the
USA, where strict health code
laws prohibit such an activity.
Considering these advantages,
there is some important information
you should know.
Whether you like it or not, you are
responsible for picking up after
your dog. Not only is dog poop
ugly, it is a breeder of disease. Dog
feces play a role in water pollution,
especially in the cities. Bacteria
makes its way into streams, lakes
and ground water and this can
make people sick. Since June 2004,
trash laws dictate that dog owners
who do not pick up after their
animals will be fi ned SFr 80.
If you are a registered resident of
Saanenland (you are here more
than three months a year) and own
a dog, the deadline for paying the
dog tax was August 1 2008 and the
fee is SFr 80, payable at the
Gemeinde in Saanen (Gemeinde
Gsteig is August 31).
Vier Pfoten Paradies
Conci & Schmid
The *****Doggy Hotel
With individual dog care.
Hourly, daily, or weekly.
Day and night service.
3785 Gsteig bei Gstaad
tel. 033 765 35 51
cell 079 415 77 29
Photo: Walfred Conci
Whilst on holidays, dog owners can bring their pet to the dog
boarding house “Vier Pfoten Paradies” in Gsteig.
Since January 1 2007, all dogs older
than three months of age are
required to have an implanted
microchip (or legible tattoo) and
must be registered with the Animal
Identity Service (ANIS) database
in Bern. ANIS is an independent
database for pets, operating
throughout Switzerland. If you
imported your dog from abroad,
you must present your dog to a
veterinarian in Switzerland within
10 days of entering the country.
The vet will register your dog’s
foreign microchip or tattoo number
with ANIS.
In Canton Bern, owners of
“dangerous or potentially
dangerous” breeds such as bull
terriers, dobermans and rottweilers
are asked to declare their dogs with
the cantonal veterinary offi ce;
owners will then learn about
dog-training requirements and
authorization for possession.
There is talk of a potential new law
that would require prospective dog
owners to pay for and complete a
two part training course. A theory
section on the needs and wishes of
the animal and a practical section
on how to walk their dog and how
to react in various situations that
might arise during the process.
Law or not, such training is
recommended and available each
week in Saanen at the Dog Sporting
Association (Hundesportverein)
on Wednesdays at 20h00, the cost
is SFr 5 per session and no sign up
is required (puppy training is at
19h00). Training is in German, but
French and rudimentary German
is suffi cient.
According to Walfred Conci
of Vier Pfoten Paradies, a dog
boarding house in Gsteig, one hour
a week of dog training is good but
sometimes not enough to solve
emotional problems such as shyness
and aggressiveness. “Dog training
classes are short and the dogs are
sometimes excited and hectic,” says
Conci. “Dogs don’t have a chance
to play together and socialize
properly.” For example, if a dog is
shy, Conci and his partner Sonya
Schmid will work to bring the dog
out of its shell, so it can enjoy
playing with other dogs. Dogs that
are too aggressive to mix and
mingle will benefi t from the same
amount of human interaction that
the others receive. Conci says that
bringing so called ‘problem dogs’
to him for a day or a week could
bring about some positive changes.
The boarding house was founded
and is run by Conci and Schmid,
true animal lovers with impeccable
standards for quality. They cater to
the well being of each dog, walking
the dogs three times a day. Active
dogs enjoy an action-packed day of
playing, chasing and running,
while the more mellow canine
companions spend a leisurely time
sitting in the shade or soaking in
pools. Conci and Schmid go to
extraordinary measures to ensure
the health and safety of their doggie
guests. They provide an anxietyfree,
safe and secure environment,
where dogs can interact in a clean
indoor and outdoor setting. If dogs
could design the perfect place to
stay, the Vier Pfoten Paradies
would be it.

Friday, August 8 2008 · gstaadlife.com
Page 7 People
“Conducting the London Philharmonica is
like driving a Formula One Ferrari” ■ by Diana Oehrli
Philippe Bach speaks about his experience conducting the London Philharmonic and his work with Placido Domingo.
On a sunny afternoon in July,
we met with Philippe Bach, a 34
year old Saanen native and
conductor, recently praised by the
Menuhin Festival. “Bach continues
to astonish all with the supersonic
speed with which he is ascending
the career ladder,” says the festival’s
website. Here for only a few days,
Bach just fi nished a two year post
as assistant conductor at the Teatro
Real in Madrid. During this
time, he assisted Jesús López-Cobos
and guest artists Placido Domingo,
Alberto Zedda and others. In
2006, Bach won an international
conducting competition, the prize
being the two year post in
Madrid.
A lifelong dream for most
conductors, Bach conducted the
London Philharmonic at the
Royal Festival Hall on June 13
2008. Bach was one of three young
conductors chosen to rehearse
with the London Philharmonic
and Philharmonia Orchestras,
culminating in the June concert.
This was part of the Allianz
Cultural Foundation’s International
Conductors’ Academy.
Born in Saanen in 1974, the son of
Markus S. Bach, music director
and head of the Music School of
Saanenland-Obersimmental,
young Bach studied the French
horn at the Musikhochschule Bern
and at the Conservatoire de
Genève. His impressive resume
includes: the Musikhochschule
Zürich, where he fi nished his
studies with distinction in 2005, an
American Academy of Conducting
fellowship at the Aspen Music
Festival, Junior Fellow in
Conducting at the Royal Northern
College of Music in Manchester
(2004-2006), orchestral work
with the Tonhalle Orchester,
Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid,
Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie,
Hallé Orchestra, Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic, and Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestras.
For the next three years, Bach will
be working in Germany, serving as
one of the three directors at the
Theater Lübeck. He will also
be working with the Hamburgische
Staatsoper, the Orchestra della
Svizzera Italiana, Orquesta
Sinfonica de Madrid and the Basel
Sinfonietta.
Let’s get back to Saanen where we
found Bach waiting outside the
Saanenhof terrace, humbly waving
and smiling.
What made you decide to study
music?
I grew up around music. My father
was a trombone teacher here in
Saanen and he had students who
came to our house every day. He
also conducted. The great thing
about growing up in Gstaad was
that I could go to the Menuhin
Festival at the age of eleven or
twelve. This was an amazing
opportunity to be able to see some
of the greatest musicians, something
that is not normally possible in a
small village.
GSTAADLIFE: Editorial: Antoinette de Scheel antoinette.descheel@gstaadlife.ch; Xavier Ferguson xavier.ferguson@gstaadlife.ch; Phil Linder phil.linder@gstaadlife.ch; Victoria Lovell
victoria.lovell@gstaadlife.ch; Frank Müller frank.mueller@gstaadlife.ch; Diana Oehrli diana.oehrli@gstaadlife.ch. Advertising: Peter Kuntze-Schneider peter.kuntze@gstaadlife.ch. Publishing,
conception, printing: Müller Marketing & Druck AG, Gstaad. Subscriptions: Elsbeth Wyss tel 033 748 88 74.
How was your concert at the
Royal Festival Hall?
It was a great experience to be such
a young conductor and to work
with one of the best orchestras in
the world. Conducting the London
Philharmonic is like driving
a Formula One Ferrari. The
musicians react so quickly to
each movement. With a youth
orchestra, you have to exaggerate
movements.
Was it diffi cult?
It is hard to accompany a soloist. As
I conduct many operas, I am quite
used to it. It is easier to have a
perfect symphony performance
than an operatic performance.
How did you enjoy working
with Jesús Lopez-Cobos?
He was something like a musical
father to me. Being almost seventy,
he has so much experience. He
gave me a lot of advice and one
cannot pay for an experience like
that. The beginning of a career is
tough for a young conductor.
Somebody has to open doors for
you. That’s the way it works.
Was there a highlight?
Assisting Placido Domingo. He is
really a nice person, very normal
Steep career: having started playing music at the age of six,
Philippe Bach fulfi lled his dream in becoming conductor.
Photo: Priska Ketterer
for being so famous and a very
good musician.
When did you realize that
music would become your life
career?
I was about 13, and heard a
performance of Tchaikovsky’s
First Piano Concerto and Fifth
Symphony.
When did you begin playing
the French horn and other
instruments?
I started playing the piano at 6, the
coronet at 10. I conducted my fi rst
concert at age eleven, and I started
the French horn at sixteen. When
I turned sixteen, I had a diffi cult
choice to make. I wanted to
conduct, but you couldn’t start
conducting at sixteen. The other
option that was given to me was
theory or piano. I chose the French
horn, an orchestral instrument. I’m
glad I started it, as it has turned out
to be very useful. It helps me
learn about the psychology of
musicians, something that is very
important. It’s the heart of the
orchestra.
Do you have a favorite
composer?
My favorite composer would have
to be Mozart. He is great all the
way from piano music, to opera, to
chamber music, to symphonies, to
everything.
Will you perform at the
Menuhin Festival next year?
We are talking. I hope so.
Would you ever like to return
to Switzerland for good?
Sure. The problem is that in
Switzerland, there are thirteen
professional orchestras and none of
them have Swiss head conductors.
In Spain, there are twenty
professional orchestras and fi fteen
have Spanish conductors. I think it
is impossible to start a conducting
career in Switzerland as a Swiss.