INTRODUCTION

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8 Years of History is a witness to the first eight years of the 4 Seasons Festival. A classical music festival for and by young people, this is the challenge that was launched in 2014 by Oleg Gafner. Taking place 4 times a year, the Lausanne festival has distinguished itself by its programming with singular ideas and its choice of young local performers.

After having marked the 4 years of the festival with a book retracing its first steps, it is now the music that takes over the text to inlay its notes in the history of the festival. Whether it is the presence of musicians Aurore Grosclaude, Clara Schlotz or Mila Gafner who symbolizes the launching concert of the festival, Guy-Baptiste Jaccottet who signs not only his presence as a musician, but also as a composer, or Ionah Maiatsky who is a regularly invited artist, this CD is composed of works and performers who shape the identity of the 4 seasons festival.

Whatever its format, the 4 seasons festival has always honored classical music. But to honor it, its ease of access is essential. Since its beginnings, the festival has relied on the total gratuity of its events: entrance, food and drinks have always been offered. In addition to the desire to share this love for classical music, the desire to open up and broaden this world, which may seem restricted, has been a sine qua non of the festival. In addition to the fact that it is free, the emphasis on youth, both among the artists and the organizers, is at the heart of its identity. These last years, especially with the pandemic that we have just gone through, have demonstrated a committed and innovative youth.

During these eight years, the festival has been able to take up many challenges. We could mention long term projects like the publication of its book or the production of this CD. But it is undoubtedly in the face of̀ the COVID-19 pandemic that the festival has been able to bounce back and innovate the most in order to keep in touch with its audience. During the containment, concerts that should have been cancelled by the audience ban were still able to exist. Thanks to the live broadcast, a room empty of listeners but filled with the musical presence of the performers and the technical team, the festival was able to maintain its concerts and even its traditional meals, delivering them directly to the listeners, one hour before the broadcast. During Advent 2020, an ensemble travelled around the canton of Vaud in a van to play for our seniors in retirement homes.

Thus, the 4 Seasons Festival is also an evolution through the city of Lausanne. The first five editions took place in the Maison de Quartier de la Pontaise, then moved to the Opéra de Lausanne, before landing at the Salle Paderewski of the Casino de Montbenon. For this recording, it was important to return to the places that saw the birth of this musical epic, while taking up the challenge of the festival: a live recording, made by Radio Télévision Suisse. Two takes at the most, without splicing or retouching. [..]

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Translated from French by www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

GUY-BAPTISTE JACCOTTET, harmonium & composition

Fascinated by the organ in all its facets, Guy-Baptiste Jaccottet (1998) studies in the class of Benjamin Righetti (HEMU-Lausanne) and at the same time works on improvisation with Paul Goussot (CRR Rueil-Malmaison).

Deeply attracted by the creation, the spectacle and the cinema, he is responsible for the organ of the Barnabé Theater in Servion. From 2019 to 2021, he is assistant organist at the church of Saint-François in Lausanne and in 2020 takes up his functions as titular organist at the Temple of La Tour-de-Peilz and as organ teacher at the Conservatoire de Montreux-Vevey-Riviera (CMVR). In 2022, he was appointed professor of organ at the Conservatoire de Lausanne.

As a soloist, cinematographer or in an ensemble, Guy-Baptiste gives about forty concerts per year, notably in privileged and prestigious settings (Verbier Festival, Festival internazionale di musica organistica di Magadino, Festival Toulouse les Orgues, Festival l'orgue fait son cinéma in Geneva, Bach Festival in Lausanne, Davos Festival). Anxious to defend a wide and varied repertoire and to reach an ever more diverse audience, he regularly produces videos on his YouTube channel. In 2022, he recorded a first album at the Abbey of Payerne, in duo with the flutist Charlotte Schneider.

His music was recognized in 2016 by the First Prize and the Audience Prize at the New Music for Recorder composition competition. Winner of the pedagogical composition competition of the association Kinder an die Orgel, he published in 2022 the 3 volumes of his "Carnaval des Zoorganistes", intended for budding organists.

Fond of novelty, but respectful of tradition, he received in 2019 the Grant for talent and creativity from the Casino Barrière Foundation.

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Translated from French by www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Biographies:

Duo Guy-Baptiste Jaccottet (harmonium) et Tjasha Gafner (harp)

Trio 42'
Elena Moruzzi (violin)
Mila Gafner (alto)
Clara Schlotz (cello)

Ionah Maiatsky (piano)
Aurore Grosclaude (piano)

Festival 4 Saisons Lausanne

Permanent festival team

Oleg Gafner (direction)
Marilou Müller (publics)
Chloé Voirol (bénévoles)
Jade Voirol (production)
Adèle Chavanne (programmation)
Hermance Chanel (finances)
Lola Hofer (administration)

REVIEWS

Austa / Stringendo

" [..] The combination of instruments works very well and the performance by Duo Guy-Baptiste Jaccottet and Tjasha Gafner is most enjoyable." - Andrew Lorenz, April 2024