A special moment in my career as a composer is approaching: the premiere of my new work Lachrimae for mezzo-soprano, violin and organ. The title is inspired by the famous Lachrimae ("Tears") by John Dowland from the late 16th century - but in fact it is a kind of modern "Stabat Mater Dolorosa" - a contemporary lament that expresses different characters of tears. I wrote the piece especially for the new Surround organ at St. Laurenzen church.

The lyrics for my piece are based on poems by the St. Gallen poet Meie Lutz, which she published some time ago and whose profoundness and lightness at the same time touch me deeply.

It is a pleasure to have Melanie Veser, a singer with great expression and a wonderful voice, and Elisabeth Kohler, a violinist with an outstandingly clear and at the same time heartfelt sound, for the world premiere.

Friday, March 29, 2024, 6pm. St. Laurenzen church, St. Gallen, Switzerland.

A special moment in my career as a composer is approaching: the premiere of my new work Lachrimae for mezzo-soprano, violin and organ. The title is inspired by the famous Lachrimae (“Tears”) by John Dowland from the late 16th century – but in fact it is a kind of modern Stabat Mater Dolorosa– a contemporary lament that expresses different characters of tears. I wrote the piece especially for the new Surround organ at St. Laurenzen church.

The lyrics for my piece are based on poems by the St. Gallen poet Meie Lutz, which she published some time ago and whose profoundness and lightness at the same time touch me deeply.

It is a pleasure to have Melanie Veser, a singer with great expression and a wonderful voice, and Elisabeth Kohler, a violinist with an outstandingly clear and at the same time heartfelt sound, for the world premiere.

Kathrin Bolt will read texts from the Bible.

Friday, March 29, 2024, 6:00 pm, Church of St. Laurenzen, St. Gallen.

Preview by stgallen24.ch

It is perhaps the most transcendent and visionary work I know: Franz Liszt's magnificent (and only) Piano Ponata in B minor. Volume 9 of the A Tempo Project is dedicated to it. The more I discovered the countless details of the compositions and developed my own rendition, the more I was stunned by the profundity and freedom of Liszt's masterpiece.

At first, Liszt's Sonata doesn't appear to be easy to perceive. As a result, it is not that often performed in public. But once we start listening to the incredible richness of sound and the sheer beauty of its harmonies, there is literally no end to the discoveries.

In my introduction videos, I talk about the subject of transcendence and its mysterious connection to tempo. It is therefore no coincidence that the final recording of this cycle of the A Tempo Project ends with Liszt's Sonata.

The recording venue is the newly renovated hall of the Stadtcasino Basel, which has wonderful acoustics. The instrument I used is a Bösendorfer VC280, which adds so much warmth and color to Liszt's music.

I am proud of this recording and happy to be able to share it!

It is perhaps the most transcendent and visionary work I know: Franz Liszt’s magnificent (and only) Piano Ponata in B minor. Volume 9 of the A Tempo Project is dedicated to it. The more I discovered the countless details of the compositions and developed my own rendition, the more I was stunned by the profundity and freedom of Liszt’s masterpiece.

At first, Liszt’s Sonata doesn’t appear to be easy to perceive. As a result, it is not that often performed in public. But once we start listening to the incredible richness of sound and the sheer beauty of its harmonies, there is literally no end to the discoveries.

In my introduction videos, I talk about the subject of transcendence and its mysterious connection to tempo. It is therefore no coincidence that the final recording of this cycle of the A Tempo Project ends with Liszt’s Sonata.

The recording venue is the newly renovated hall of the Stadtcasino Basel, which has wonderful acoustics. The instrument I used is a Bösendorfer VC280, which adds so much warmth and color to Liszt’s music.

I am proud of this recording and happy to be able to share it!

METROPOLIS by Fritz Lang (Germany, 1927) is one of the most iconic works from the Silent Film era. Director Fritz Lang set new standards in the field of film architecture, visual effects and cinematic narrative. The film had a turbulent history: drastically shortened, the original version of the film was long considered lost. But in 2008, after decades of searching for the lost parts, the "miracle" happened: A 16mm copy of the original 1927 version was unearthed in a Buenos Aires film archive. Since then, the film has been restored and made available in its entirety.

Metropolis is a masterpiece of the science fiction genre. The theme of different classes and artificial intelligence is as present today as it was in 1927. The acting and the scenery are breathtaking.

I am delighted to be able to accompany this great Silent Film live at the "Zürcher Orgeltage" and (twice) at the St. Galler Stummfilmkonzerte.

Zurich Organ Days (Zurich): Saturday, January 13, 2024. 7:00 pm. Church of St. Jakob am Stauffacher, Zurich. Website

St. Gallen Silent Film Concerts: Thursday, January 18, 2024, and Friday, January 19, 2024, both at 19:00. Parish hall St. Georgen, St. Gallen. Website

Volume VII of the A Tempo project approaches the subject of tempo from a new angle. Following in the footsteps of the great Beethoven interpreter Franz Liszt, Bernhard Ruchti presents three piano sonatas by Beethoven, inspired by instructions given by Liszt in his master classes in Weimar in the 1880s. These master classes are richly documented. It is fascinating to join Liszt's circle of students, as they were, through the eyes and ears of contemporary witnesses! The interpretation follows neither a metronome marking nor a documented duration, but takes purely musical aspects into account.

Bernhard Ruchti plays on an original Érard concert grand piano from 1839.

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Grande Sonate Pathétique in C minor Opus 13
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata in C-sharp minor Opus 27 No. 2 "Moonlight"
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata in E minor Opus 90
• English and German Introductions
• Bonus: Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne in G minor Op. 37 No. 1

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International Order
Signed Copy

Ludwig van Beethoven's "Hammerklavier Sonata" in B-flat major, Opus 106, is one of the core works regarding tempo research. Its original metronome markings were questioned already in the 19th century. It is all the more significant that one of the most authoritative Beethoven interpreters of the 19th century, Franz Liszt, indicated the duration of the Sonata in a private letter: "presqu'une heure" - almost an hour. This duration - together with in-depth research on historical editions of the work - is the basis and inspiration of Bernhard's interpretation.

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Grosse Sonate für das Hammerklavier op. 106
• English and German Introductions
• Bonus: Ludwig van Beethoven's famous "Für Elise" in two different interpretations

Apple Music
Spotify
International Order
Signed Copy

On September 3, 2023, the long-awaited inauguration of the new Goll organ took place at the St. Laurenzen church in St. Gallen (Switzerland). For more than seven years me and my team had been working on this project. At the beginning of 2016, I developed the idea of a “surround organ” with four different pipe locations that together form a unique instrument that fills the entire church. Since then, the instrument had been planned in detail – in a fruitful and inspiring collaboration with Simon Hebeisen, CEO of the organ building company Goll in Lucerne.

For two weeks it seemed as if the entire city of St. Gallen was taken by the beauty and the excitement of the new organ. The inauguration included services, concerts, vespers and a lecture.

Organists from abroad joined me and my colleagues in St. Gallen and made the festival varied and colorful. I am very grateful how warmly the new organ was received by the public. It was a wonderful celebration!

The Website of the organ project allows a closer look at the instrument and offers a calendar for upcoming events (in German).

TVO coverage of the organ project (in German)

Photos: Klaus Stadler

On September 3, 2023, the long-awaited inauguration of the new Goll organ took place at the St. Laurenzen church in St. Gallen (Switzerland). For more than seven years me and my team had been working on this project. At the beginning of 2016, I developed the idea of a "surround organ" with four different pipe locations that together form a unique instrument that fills the entire church. Since then, the instrument had been planned in detail - in a fruitful and inspiring collaboration with Simon Hebeisen, CEO of the organ building company Goll in Lucerne.

For two weeks it seemed as if the entire city of St. Gallen was taken by the beauty and the excitement of the new organ. The inauguration included services, concerts, vespers and a lecture. Organists from abroad joined me and my colleagues in St. Gallen and made the festival varied and colorful. I am very grateful how warmly the new organ was received by the public. It was a wonderful celebration!

The website of the organ project allows a closer look at the instrument and offers a calendar for upcoming events (in German).

Photos by Klaus Stadler