New Swiss Talents – Johannes Kobelt Quartet (NST 5/1980)

swissmusic

The Johannes Kobelt Quartet from Zurich comprises four young and very versatile Swiss musicians who, between them, play more than 20 different instruments.

Johannes Kobelt has performed as a solo cellist with leading Swiss and German orchestras and chamber groups. Besides that, he won as a jazz clarinettist, in two consecutive years, the first prize for soloists at the Swiss National Jazz Festival of Zurich. He also performs on such varied instruments as the “Schwyzerörgeli” (Swiss diatonic accordion), flute, guitar, banjo and piano, and composes and arranges many of the quartet’s numbers.

Katharina Kobelt (Johannes Kobelt’s wife) is an outstanding classical violinist who has performed extensively with the City of Winterthur Symphony Orchestra and other prominent orchestras and chamber groups in Switzerland and abroad.

Urs Batt began his career as a jazz musician, concentrating on the tuba and winning over four successive years first prizes for soloists at Zurich’s Swiss National Jazz Festival. With the Kobelt Quartet he performs on the sousaphone, double bass, balalaika, tenor horn, drums and washboard.

Dominique Starck, the group’s youngest member, plays classical guitar, electric guitar and piano. Before joining the quartet he led his own class-rock band.

Musical content

1. Johannes Kobelt Quartet: Käs Problem, Schottisch
(Johannes Kobelt)
2. Johannes Kobelt Quartet: Zum Donner, Ländler
(Johannes Kobelt)
3. Johannes Kobelt Quartet: Adagio-allegro. From Trio Sonata in D major for Violin, Cello and Continuo
(J. M. Leclair)
4. Johannes Kobelt Quartet: Mazurka
(Traditional Russian folk melody)
5. Johannes Kobelt Quartet: Song of the Shepard, Czardas from Pocs
(Traditional Hungarian gypsy melodies)
6. Johannes Kobelt Quartet: Washboard Time
(Johannes Kobelt)
7. Johannes Kobelt Quartet: Hungarian Dance no. 5 in G minor
(Johannes Brahms)

Production information

Musica Helvetica. New Swiss Talents NST 5. Johannes Kobelt Quartet. Produced 1980 for SBC / SRI by Lance Tschannen.

Background information

Switzerland is a small alpine nation shaped and influenced by great cultural cross-currents that have swept through Europe over centuries. Out of elements of diversity, the people of this country have forged a distinctly Swiss identity. And music is one of its most eloquent expressions. “Musica Helvetica” explores different facets of music in Switzerland from its earliest beginnings to the latest works of modern Swiss composers, from folk music to rock and jazz. This historical series span the years 1973 to 1998. These recordings are not available.