Frank Martin Society

17/11/2025

On November 21, 2025 – the 51st anniversary of Frank Martin’s death – Thierry Fischer will conduct ‘Et la vie l’emporta’, the composer’s final work. This deeply moving piece will be performed by the Orchestre Frank Martin and the Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne, which gave the première of the work in 1974 under the direction of Michel Corboz.

▶️ Fri 21 November 2025 | 19:30
🇨🇭 Geneva (CH) | Temple Saint-Gervais
🔗 https://odysseefrankmartin.ch/en/et-la-vie-lemporta/

20/11/2024

On 21 November 2024 several Memorial Concerts will take place commemorating the 50th anniversary of Frank Martin’s passing.

Geneva (CH) | Cathédrale Saint Pierre | 20:00
Frank Martin - Requiem | Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne, l’Orchestre Frank Martin & soloists conducted by Thierry Fischer

Naarden (NL) | Grote Kerk | 20:00
Frank Martin - Five Songs of Ariel; Mass for double choir
Netherlands Chamber Choir conducted by Peter Dijkstra

Zürich (CH) | Hottingersaal | 19:30
Frank Martin - Sechs Monologe aus Jedermann; Préludes for piano (selection); Drey Minnelieder; Dédicace de Pierre de Ronsard; Etude rythmique en hommage à Jaques-Dalcroze
Kathrin Hottiger, soprano; Sascha Litschi, baritone; Hans Adolfsen, piano

For more information visit http://www.frankmartin.org

19/10/2024

Today: WORLD PREMIÈRE of Frank Martin's DIE BLAUE BLUME
19 October 2024, 20 uur | Geneva | Bâtiments des Forces Motrices

88 years after its creation, 50 year after Frank Martin’s passing…

https://odysseefrankmartin.ch/en/die-blaue-blume/

In 2024 the Swiss composer Nicolas Bolens orchestrated the 30 scenes of Die blaue Blume, on the request of L’Odyssée Frank Martin in Geneva, which joins forces with the Orchestre de la Haute école de musique de Genève (HEM) and with choreograph Mourad Merzouki to give this score a spectacular world première.

Frank Martin - Die blaue Blume (1936)
Nicolas Bolens - orchestration (2024)

Orchestre de la Haute école de musique de Genève
Thierry Fischer, conductor | Pierre Fouchenneret, solo violin | Loïc Vallaeys and Arthur Noël, piano | Mourad Merzouki, direction and choreography | Dancers of the Käfig Company with the participation of dance students from the Conservatoire populaire’s pre-professional curriculum | Yoan Tivoli, lighting | Benjamin Lebreton, set design | Auriane Malié, costumes

07/08/2024

Singing for Peace on World Peace Day!
visit www.frankmartin.org for more information…

Spread the word!
As a homage to peace the Frank Martin Society calls on choirs throughout the world to perform Martin’s beautiful Notre Père in the weekend of the International Day of Peace (Saturday 21 September). On the Friday, Saturday or Sunday, whichever suits best. This can be done in all sorts of ways: in the street, concert hall or church, during an event or out walking. There is one central idea: in this weekend choirs throughout the world sing with one voice for peace!

16/06/2023

Recently we happened to come across this image of a painting made by the Swiss avant-garde painter Alice Bailly (1872-1938). We were surprised when we saw the pianist accompanying ‘La cantatrice’…
https://www.frankmartin.org/la_cantatrice/

17/04/2023

‘Soprano Anna Prohaska, violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Camerata Bern explore the image of women through ten centuries of music: the figure of the Virgin Mary – among other works, the triptych Magnificat - Ave Maria - Stabat Mater (1967/68) by Frank Martin, an unclassifiable composer whom both artists venerate – but also Mary Magdalene, in pieces by Caldara and Kurtág. The expression of two women musicians of today, a journey full of meaning and a sensory exploration featuring solos, duets, quartets and works for large orchestra.’
Outhere Music (https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/maria-mater-meretrix)

28/02/2023

To present a new focus on the rich and extensive repertoire of this composer, we produced ‘Frank Martin - Celebrating his music’. This interactive guide highlights some fifty works which deserve to be performed in view of their exceptional quality and relevance for contemporary audiences.
Ce guide est aussi disponible en français.
https://www.frankmartin.org/fm2024/

30/01/2023

Next Friday the Dutch Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Groot Omroepkoor and baritone Raoul Steffani will perform Frank Martin’s Ode à la musique. Marcus Creed will conduct this concert, which is a tribute to music itself. Besides Martin’s Ode they will perform the Serenade to Music by Vaughan Williams and Händel’s Ode for St Caecilia’s Day.
More info about
• Martin’s Ode: https://www.frankmartin.org/work/ode-a-la-musique/
• concert: https://www.tivolivredenburg.nl/agenda/avrotros-vrijdagconcert-03-02-2023/
• radio broadcast: https://www.nporadio4.nl/uitzendingen/avrotros-vrijdagconcert/62125be6-09ae-4c68-b1fe-56e58e1e7685/2023-02-03-avrotros-vrijdagconcert

Op vrijdag 3 februari speelt het Radio Filharmonisch Orkest met het Groot Omroepkoor een Ode aan de muziek.

26/01/2023

Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the death of the composer Frank Martin (1890-1974). The Frank Martin Society is developing various initiatives to promote his rich repertoire. Visit our renewed website www.frankmartin.org to discover the music of this fascinating composer.

This site is dedicated to the music and life of the composer Frank Martin. Visit an extensive database of his Works or take a look at Photos for a pictorial history of his life.