The first of 13 programmes surveying the large number of composers commissioned over the years by this remarkable Swiss patron of music who is now in his 70s. As conductor of two orchestras - the Basel Chamber Orchestra and the Zurich Colleguim Musicum, both of them founded by him, this dedicated and far-sighted musician has given world premieres of many works now regarded as masterpieces of 20th-century music, and the series will include historic performances conducted by Sacher himself.
Bartok Music for strings, percussion and celesta
ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS, conducted by NEVILLE MARRINER
Stravinsky Concerto in D, for strings: ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, conducted by COLIN DAVIS : records