Alfons Karl Zwicker

Alfons Karl Zwicker (born 22 April 1952) is a Swiss composer, pianist and painter.

Life Born in St. Gallen, Zwicker began as a painter and designer. He created several paintings, which were exhibited between 1973 and 1980. Zwicker then studied piano from 1976 to 1981 with Hadassa Schwimmer at Zurich University of the Arts and from 1983 to 1987 with Werner Bärtschi in Zurich. From 1984 to 1988 he studied musical composition with Rudolf Kelterborn at the City of Basel Music Academy. With them he realized a music project for Paul Klee. In the context of the project he composed for the the work «Unter dem Grabhügel» ("Under the Grave Mound") for saxophone and orchestra, which was performed with the soloist Vincent Daoud (saxophone) under the direction of Otto Tausk was premiered on 20 February 2015 in the Tonhalle St. Gallen.

He completed a postgraduate course in Arts Management at the University of Basel in 2002 with a Master of Advanced Studies.

Awards 1989: Kulturförderungspreis der Stadt St. Gallen (for contribution to the music podium Contrapunkt) 2012: – endowed with CHF 20,000 (for experimental music theatre and impressive stage productions)

Works Stage music Operas Die Höllenmaschine. Opera in four acts after Jean Cocteau. premiere 1998 Theater St. Gallen Eine Scheidelinie wird weiter herausgezogen. Oper in einem Akt nach der szenischen Dichtung von Nelly Sachs. (Premiere) 2001 Theater St. Gallen Der Tod und das Mädchen. Opera in six scenes. Libretto: Daniel Fuchs after Ariel Dorfman's eponymous dramas. Premiere 4 December 2010 Festspielhaus Hellerau

Stage/acting music Nachtduett (1989-1990). Cycle with poems by Georg Trakl for mezzo-soprano, bass, flute, harpsichord, 4 violins, viola, violoncello and double bass.

Vocal music Erfrorene Träume (1990–1992). Cycle after poems by Josef Kopf for mezzo-soprano and ensemble Pilgerfahrt zu blauen Eisziegeln (1990–1993) for baritone and piano. Text: Josef Kopf Tropfen auf Stein (1995). cycle after poems by Elisabeth Heck for baritone, flute, harp, piano, percussion and viola Die Welt braust (1996) for baritone solo after a letter from August Stramm Konstellation mit Mondtransit (1998–1999) for soprano, violin, trombone, violoncello, clarinet and piano Erinnerung an Nelly Sachs (1999) for 2 flutes, cembalo and female voice Empathie (2001–2002) for soprano, violoncello and tape. Text: Else Lasker-Schüler Landschaft aus Schreien (2003) for mezzo-soprano and piano. Text: Nelly Sachs Mirlitonnades (2007) for mezzo-soprano and 6 instruments. Text: Samuel Beckett Dem heiligsten Stern über mir (2009) for alto and piano

Instrumental music Orchestral music Begegnung mit dem Eis (1992–1993) for medium orchestra Vom Klang der Bilder (1987–1996). Cycle for large orchestra and piano solo Sprachklang (2004) für solistisches Streichorchester L’été symétrique (Le jardin sous les eaux, part 2) (2009–2010) for large orchestra

Chamber music Variationen für Violine solo (1988) Diskurs (1988) für Klavier und 2 Trommeln (1 Spieler) Rituale für Fada (1994) für Streichquartett Postludien (1995–1997) für Violine und Klavier Kosmogramm I (1998–1999) für Klavier solo Trauernd (2001). Klee-Klang für Oboe, Fagott, Viola und Gitarre Verständigung (2002). Erinnerungen aus dem Verlies für Ensemble Botschaften des Regens (2003) für Violoncello und Schlagzeug Monogramme (2004–2007). 8 Klavierstücke Secretum (2006–2007). 8 Stücke nach den Urzeichen des I Ching für Violoncello und Kontrabass Monstrosität (2009–2010) für Klavier zu 4 Händen Vom Klang der radikalen Architektur (2010). Zyklus für Klavier zu vier Händen Hommage à Jean Baudrillard (2010) for Ensemble

Discography Vom Klang der Bilder (Musiques Suisses, 1998). Peter Waters (piano), Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra, Monica Buckland Hofstetter (conductor) Erfrorene Träume (ASM, 1999). Eleanor James, Marc Fournel, Charly Baur, Priska Zaug, Ursula Oelke, Manuel Bärtsch, Juhani Palola, Beatrix Sieber, Leo Gschwend, Jean-Marc Chappuis, Raffael Bietenhader, Jürg Wyttenbach (conductor) Rituale für Fada (Classic 2000). Arioso-Quartett St. Gallen Groupe Lacroix: 8 Pieces on Paul Klee (Creative Works Records, 2003). Ensemble Sortisatio Monogramme (Creative Works Records, 2008). Peter Waters (piano) Der Tod und das Mädchen (MGB, 2011). Frances Pappas (mezzo-soprano), Andreas Scheibner (baritone), Hans-Jürgen Schöpflin (tenor), Choir and , Jonathan Stockhammer (conductor)

Literature Adrian Riklin: Die Geburt der Musik aus dem alltäglichen Drama. In Saiten 44 (1997). Roland Schönenberg: Reise über Afrika ins Nordlicht. St. Gallen: Komponisten-Portrait Alfons Karl Zwicker. In Dissonanz 55 (1998). Zwicker, Alfons Karl. In Axel Schniederjürgen (ed.): Kürschners Musiker-Handbuch. 5th edition, Saur Verlag, Munich 2006,. Zwicker, Alfons Karl. In Wilhelm Kosch, Ingrid Bigler-Marschall (ed.): Deutsches Theater-Lexikon. Biographisches und bibliographisches Handbuch. VOl. 7: Wolbring–Zysset, De Gruyter, Berlin [among others] 2011,. Lisa D. Nolte: Blutrote Betroffenheit. Alfons Karl Zwickers Oper Der Tod und das Mädchen am Theater St. Gallen (September bis November 2011). In Dissonanz 117 (2012).