Issue 3/2026 - Focus on «Happiness»

SMZ (translation: AI) - 04 Jun 2026

Focus

Lucky charm at the nursing bed
Interview. Musikspitex provides soul nourishment at home or in nursing homes. In one-to-one concerts, Mirjam Toews and her team turn their attention to people who are weakened, suffering from dementia or dying. An activation specialist and a relative confirm how touching this is. And we experience it with Mr. J.

Happier with Music
It's not that easy to increase your life satisfaction. Music can contribute to this, provided you listen to it with this intention. At least that's what an American double study has found.

Between satirical chanson and Fun Rock
Music and humor go well together. This was already known in ancient times, and even today artists make audiences happy with this combination. A few examples from French-speaking Switzerland.

An encouragement to sing in everyday life
The author sees unintentional, self-forgetful singing as a human right and encourages us to recapture this often lost happiness.

On the silken thread of happiness
Hard work, talent, perseverance and a pinch of people skills are the basic requirements for a successful career. However, it rarely works entirely without lucky coincidences. Led by our author, musicians report on favorable circumstances and the art of making the most of them.
Quotes from Janine Cathrein, Valeria Curti, Nicole Johänntgen, Joana Aderi, Richard Köchli, Simon Borer, Veronica Fusaro, Nik Bärtsch and Gini Jungi in full length

(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.

Kian Soltani au sommet
Considéré comme l'un des meilleurs violoncellistes de sa génération, il est un invité régulier des festivals les plus prestigieux. Returning to the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, Kian Soltani gave a highly acclaimed performance of Boccherini, with the complicity of the Camerata Salzburg. Entretien.

L'éternel jeu cristallin
De passion à surprise, du classique à la pop, du décloisonnement au grand écran
During the first season of the Grand Récital, on April 25th, Martha Argerich and Dong Hyek Lim played with passion and serenity, absolute complicity, with Martha Argerich's eternal crystal game. At the Cinémathèque, the pianist Lucas Debargue improvised on «Le Fantôme de l'Opéra».

Message: Erika Radermacher turns ninety

Approaches to the cosmos
The Interfinity Festival in Basel has established itself in just a few years as a successful series of events that aims to combine music and science. The 2026 edition took place from March 7 to 20 under the motto «Exoplanets & Cosmos».

Shaping the future of art music
This year's edition of Classical:Next, the world's largest symposium for classical and contemporary music, took place in Budapest. Swiss participation was marginal.

SGNM: End of an institution
After thirty years, the Swiss Society for Contemporary Music hands over its mandate as ISCM Switzerland to Schweizer Musikedition. A look back at the history, crises and achievements of an association with a small budget and a large sphere of influence.

Baroque music from Switzerland? Absolutely!
Johann Melchior Gletle was born 400 years ago in Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau. His career took him to Augsburg as an organist and cathedral choirmaster.

A new concert hall for Altdorf
Since the winters have become warmer and the ski slopes shorter, the mountain regions have discovered summer tourism and with it, culture. Andreas Haefliger wants to convert the old arsenal in the cantonal capital of Uri for this purpose.

A house of folk music for everyone
Carte blanche for Markus Brülisauer

News: Fabian Renz becomes new SMZ Editor-in-Chief

A resonance chamber for Zurich's classical talents
The support landscape for young musicians in the canton of Zurich has been enriched by a new platform: «Zurich Youth Classical» ZYC aims to be more than just a competition. The artistic personality should take center stage.