In Geneva “The Blue Flower” by Frank Martin, a world creation emerging from an attic

Published on October 20, 2024 at 9:26 p.m.

It happens that commemorations of artists give rise to events where the sense of duty prevails over the impulse of desire. With the “Frank Martin Odyssey”, it’s the opposite. The Genevan composer born in 1890 in Geneva, tenth child of a pastor, died 50 years ago. Even though he is one of the most important Swiss musicians of the 20th century, no one would have thought of marking this date with a white stone. The conductor Thierry Fischer decided to build a cathedral for him, taking advantage of this anniversary to play and perform most of the composer’s work. Not in a festival spread over a few days, but over the years and the passions gathered around it.

No easy feat, he knew. “You have to ignore to act”: Valéry’s phrase served as his mantra. He brought together an entire skills committee who fell in love with the company. And a well-endowed Geneva foundation provided the funds necessary for the rocket to take off. “It’s a process,” explains the Genevan conductor, whose career today extends to Brazil and Spain. Everyone works day and night, the City and State of Geneva help us, but we don’t know if we will be able to perform some 100 works by Frank Martin. Everything has to be built every day.”

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