Issue 4/2026 – Focus: «Generations»

SMZ (translation: AI) - Aug. 27, 2026

Focus

A Bridge Between Generations
Interview. Ilva Eigus was already being called a star violinist when she was still a minor. Born in 2007, the Zurich-based violinist reveals how she gets along in her profession with older orchestra musicians and a graying audience—as well as with her father and occasional collaborator, pianist Nik Bärtsch.

On Tour Through Retirement Homes
For the past two years, the young band Léa & the Lions from Vaud has been working on an unusual project: they want to get seniors dancing.

The Curious Evolution of Pop Tastes
Opinions—and, traditionally, the views of different generations—tend to differ on just how great the latest musical craze is. But even in this regard, the Internet has brought about a massive upheaval.

Onward to New Horizons
A personal note: SMZ is undergoing a period of transition. Editor Jean-Damien Humair writes about his long-standing collaboration with Editor-in-Chief Katrin Spelinova and Editor Pia Schwab—both of whom are now retiring.

Chat
Singer Phanee de Pool discusses the interplay between her professional and family life with her father, who is also her manager.

(italics = summary in German of the original French article)

Critiques

New releases Books, Sound carrier, Websites, Notes, Movies

Echo

There is not enough space in the printed edition for all the texts, so they are listed here and linked to the corresponding online articles. Most of these were published before the printed edition appeared.

The End and the Beginning at the Ittingen Charterhouse
The thirtieth Ittingen Whitsun Concerts from May 22 to 25, 2026 were all about «listening». - About the first edition of the festival under the artistic direction of Reto Bieri and verticality in the experience of music.

From whale dances to wildfires, the Anthropocene sets Verbier ablaze
The majestic serenity of the mountains transports us to a sense of eternity and immutability. Yet, in the midst of climate change, the mountains are suffering, the glaciers are melting, and this scorching summer is suffocating us in every corner of the world. The August 1 concert, «Voice of Nature; The Anthropocene,» echoes this reality.

Swiss Sounds at the Vilnius Festival
There are a surprising number of connections between the two small countries, Lithuania and Switzerland. This was also evident at this year’s Vilnius Festival.

In Montreux: 80 Septembers of Music
It is one of the oldest classical music festivals in Switzerland. The Septembre Musical is celebrating its 80th anniversary in Montreux with a mix of new discoveries and established favorites, under the inspired direction of Mischa Damev.

Trying out the creative side
The «Atelier Création», a small festival initiated by the Basel Music Academy and dedicated to creativity at the interface between amateurs and professionals, took place for the first time at Stellwerk Basel at the end of May.