Concours International d’Execution Musicale Genève (CIEM) 1995 – International Competition For Musical Performers Geneva (CIEM) 1995

International Competition For Musical Performers Geneva (CIEM) 1995 swissmusic

First-prize winners in the 1995 contest were bassoonist Laurent Lefèvre, cellist Claudio Bohorquez and guitarist Georgi Vassilev. This recording spotlights their interpretations on works by Françaix, Prokofiev and Brouwer.

1st Prize for Bassoon – Laurent Lefèvre

Laurent Lefèvre was born in Charleville-Mézières (France) in 1969. He was awarde first prize for bassoon and first prize for chamber music from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. Further studies and master classes followed.
At the time of the contest Lefèvre already was a member of the Claude Debussy wind quintet and the Paris Bastille wind octet. He was soloist in the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Paris.

1st Prize for Cello – Claudio Bohórquez

Claudio Bohórquez is of Peruvian-Uruguayian origin and was born in Germany in 1976 into a family of musicians. He studied cello with Boris Pergamenschikow, Clemens Doll, Christian Florea, Hans Christian Schweiker and David Geringas. From 1988-92 he was awarded several first prizes at contests in Germany (“Jugend musiziert”), Bayreuth, Córdoba (Argentina), Bad Liebenzell and Scheveningen. In 1992 he was awarded the 3rd prize at the International Tchaikovsky Copetition.
At the time of the CIEM contest Claudio Bohórquez has already appeared as a soloist with renowned orchestras such as the Virtuosi di Praga, the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra a.o.

1st Prize for Guitar – Georgi Vassilev

Georgi Vassilev was born in Varna (Bulgaria) in 1966. He gave his first recital in at the age of 15, and at the age of 18 he won the National Competition for Young Musicians. Further studies followed at the Kiev Conservatory of Music and at the Geneva Conservatory (as a student of Maria Livia Sao-Marcos). Meanwhile Georgi Vassilev was awarded first prizes at competitions in Tychy (Poland), Alessandria (Italy) and Barcelona (Spain).
At the time of the CIEM contest, Georgi Vassilev had performed throughout Europe and South America.

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

The most internationally renowned of Swiss orchestras, The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande was founded in Geneva in 1918 by Swiss conductor Ernest Ansermet (1883-1969). Ansermet remained the orchestra’s chief for 50 years during which time he guided it to international eminence. Under his baton the orchestra earned widespread recognition especially for its performances of works by this century’s most important composers including Debussy, Stravinsky and Ravel, as well as Swiss composers Frank Martin, and Arthur Honegger. Ernest Ansermet co-operated closely with the Geneva International Competition for Musical Performers from its inauguration in 1939.

Marc Kissóczy

Marc Kissóczy was born in Montreal in 1961. He studied violin and conducting at the Zurich Conservatory. He received a diploma for virtuosity after additional studies with Ulrich Lehmann at the Berne Conservatory. Further studies in conducting followed at the Pierre Monteux School (USA) and with Sergiu Celibidache, Rolf Reuter, Charles Bruck and Pierre Boulez.
He has a.o. conducted many symphonic formations, including the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, the Hradec Kralovà Philharmonic and the Berne Symphony Orchestra.
Marc Kissóczy was the third-prize winner at the CIEM in 1994.

Orchestre de Chambre de Genève

The Orchestre de Chambre de Genève arose from the Collegium Academicum in 1992. The ensemble quickly earned a reputation for its high standards and repertoire. Wheter performing Classical or contemporary music, the orchestra strives to emphasize the original force of each composition.
In 1995 the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève began collaboration with Dinamec Classics, embarking on the complete recordings of Mozart’s Serenades as well as a series featuring Swiss music.

Thierry Fischer

Thierry Fischer studied flute at the Geneva Conservatory and with Arèle Nocolet in Freiburg im Breisgau. He began his musical career as Principal Flute in Hamburg and at the Zurich Opera, where he studied scores with Nikolaus Harnoncourt and was profoundly influenced by him. His conducting career began in his 30’s when he was Principal Flute with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe under Claudio Abbado, who encouraged and inspired him in his new-found talent for conducting.
He has held the position of artistic director of the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève since 1988. In 1992 he abandoned his career as a flutist in order to fully concentrate his energies on conducting. Since then he has led important orchestras throughout Switzerland and abroad. In 2006 Fischer was appointed principal director with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and his inaugural concert featured Florent Schmitt’s Psalm 47, subsequently recorded for Hyperion as the first in a series of French discs, and Messiaen’s Turangalila, which was recorded live for the cover disc of the BBC Music Magazine.

Leo Brouwer (1939)

Guitarist Georgi Vassilev succeeded in the 1995 contest by performing a contemporary work by Leo Brouwer. Composer Brouwer, one of the major figures in 20th-century guitar music, was born in Havana (Cuba). He first studied flamenco guitar, later classical guitar. As a composer Brouwer was largely self-taught. Although he was written many works for guitar, his output is on a much wider scale, embracing numerous symphonic works, concertos, chamber music and much music for film.

Background information on the Geneva CIEM

In 1939 Swiss composer Henri Gagnebin and Frédéric Liebstoeckl founded the International Competition for Musical Performers in Geneva. After Second World war it soon became one of the world’s most prestigious competitions. The inaugural competition included seven categories (bassoon, voice, clarinet, flute, oboe, piano and violin) and was carried through in two stages. The final concert was broadcast by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation and by the National Broadcasting Corporation in New York.

The Geneva competition has contunially profited from a close co-operation with leading musicians and orchestras. Eminent Swiss conductor Ernest Ansermet (along with the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande) was an ardent advocate of the competition, often appearing on the rostrum himself to accompany young performers.

The collaboration with outstanding musicians also extends to the jury. Over fifty highly respected specialists are involved in the evaluation process each year. They make a major contribution to the outstanding international reputation of the CIEM.

The promotion of Swiss music has also always been one of the primary goals of the Geneva competition. The set selection of pieces from which candidates choose always includes music by Swiss composers (specially commissioned in co-operation with the Swiss Musician’s Association). Over 150 new works have been composed specifically for the competition (including Frank Martin, Heinz holliger, Willy Burkhard etc.).

The city and canton of Geneva and the Swiss Federal government have supported the Geneva competition since its inception. Additional support of eminence was provided by major companies.

Production information.

1995 International Competition For Musical Performers Geneva (1996). Musica Helvetica MH CD 89.2. Produced for SRI by Christian Strickler.