David Bruchez-Lalli
"The first time I conducted the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich was as a stand-in, 14 years ago, at the family concert with the film 'The Snowman'. I only had two weeks to prepare, and for the last three days I thought about what I should say first when I stood in front of the orchestra. When I went up to the podium, I still didn't know! Then I simply said: 'This is a strange prospect for me, and I'm sure for you too. I'm nervous, let's get started'
Since then, I have often conducted, especially for children's and youth projects such as 'Mittendrin'. The focus there is on teaching, we want to pass on the joy of music to the children. It's not about my ambitions as a conductor, but above all I have to make sure that everything runs efficiently, that I have contact with the children and that I integrate the orchestra well. I can sense very quickly if there is negative or too much positive energy somewhere in the hall, and you have to balance it out quickly.
When the children come into the hall for the concert rehearsals, I already know them. I always do workshops with them beforehand. In this context, I would definitely like to mention that these projects are teamwork: We work very closely with Mara Corleoni, Lisa Wyss and Yvonne Gisler from the music education department, they organise the whole thing and we also plan the programmes together and with Marc Barwisch.
In the past, I sometimes put on two different coloured shoes for the first meeting with the children, then they could choose which one I should wear at the concert. That creates an immediate connection. And when I'm on stage, with my still rather French-coloured German, they like it. Perhaps it's precisely because of my language that they don't feel lectured to, not like at school; that helps.
I've always been interested in conducting, I started doing it during my studies - without an official degree, though, because I got a job as a trombonist very early on. I first played in the opera house, then in 2006 I moved to the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich as principal trombonist. With this instrument, you sit at the very back of the orchestra and you have lots of breaks. I always observe what the conductor is doing at the front, what works and what doesn't. I learnt a lot that way. I've learnt a lot that way.
In addition to the educational projects, I have been conducting the Zurich Youth Symphony Orchestra (JSOZ), our orchestra's junior music partner, for nine years. The approach here is different to the children's projects; it's really about musical development. The young people are usually involved for around three years, we have two performances a year in the Grosse Tonhalle, plus a concert tour abroad. The programme consists exclusively of masterpieces; the best thing about it is that they always work. Once you crack the code, all the emotions are there, even in a performance with a youth orchestra.
Most of the orchestra members are new to these works. I myself have often played them, but never conducted them. However, it sometimes happens that I do a work for the second time: Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 is coming up this autumn, as was the case at my very first concert with the JSOZ. I'm looking forward to it: I've already made the necessary mistakes the first time, now it's really starting."
