Katrin Frauchiger studied voice at the "Hochschule für Musik und Theater Bern" and in Cambridge USA (soloist diploma with distinction) as well as composition under Michael Jarrell at the "Musikhochschule Zürich". She attended the workshops of Chaya Czernowin, Frederik Rzewski, Donald Martino, Fred Frith, Klaus Huber and Heinz Holliger.
Specialising in contemporary music, Katrin Frauchiger has performed on innumerable occasions in the USA and premiered a great number of works by composers such as Frangis Ali-Sade, Jürg Wyttenbach, Mischa Käser, Christoph Neidhöfer and Daniel Glaus. She performs as a soloist together with various ensembles and orchestras within the framework of international festivals, including the "IMF Luzern 1999", "Wiener Hörgänge 1999", Young Artists Festival Davos 2001, "Europäischer Musikmonat 2001", "Festival Incontemporanea 2005" and the "Lucca Europa Festival 2008", to name but a few.
Her compositions have seen world premiere performances at home and abroad by such formations as the Berner Kammerorchester, Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain, Ensemble Bern Modern, Ensemble Amaltea, Ensemble Swiss Modern and at the "FMF Festival 2001", the Festivals "L'Art pour L'Aar 2003, 2006 and 2010", the "Armenisch-schweizerischen Kulturtage 2004", the festival Two Days and Two Nights of New Music Odessa 2005, the 37th "Festival Internacional Encuentros Buenos Aires 2006", the "Soirée Oppenheim CCS Paris 2006", "YOUrope together Essen 2008" and the "Festival Croisements, Chine 2010"; several performances were transmitted by Radio DRS 2 and German Radio. She has recorded various works on CD. Her artistic activity is characterised by a broad spectrum of cross-style and cross-media projects, collaborations with jazz musicians and involvement in film, dance and theatre productions in her role as an interpreter and composer.
Katrin Frauchiger received an award for her musical work from the Pro Arte Foundation in 2002 and was commissioned to write a composition for Pro Helvetia in 2004, and again in 2009. She received the canton of Berne's Appreciation Prize in 2007. Katrin Frauchiger is a lecturer at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts/Music.
Work list
Pompejï-Fragmente I-III (1997)
Instrumentation: for soprano, viola and violoncello
After wall instriptions in Pompei.
1. All lovers perish
2. Quisquis amat nigram
3. Nothing lasts forever
Duration: 8' 30" Manuscript
An eine Tänzerin (1998)
Instrumentation: for two sopranos, flute, viola, violoncello and piano
Texts: R. Hezar-Khani
Duration: 8' 00"-9' 00" Manuscript
Schaumspiel, eine Oper ohne (1999)
Musical theatre production
Instrumentation: for soprano, violin, clarinet/bass clarinet, piano and three actors
Texts: Paul Celan, Imre Kertesz
Musical theatre production about the indemnification for the victims of the Holocaust.
Composition: Katrin Frauchiger and Daniel Peter Birò.
Director/libretto: Sebastian Dietschi.
Duration: abendfüllend Manuscript
Es ist alles anders (1999)
Instrumentation: for soprano, bass clarinet and violin
Texts: Paul Celan
From: 'Schaumspiel, eine Oper ohne'.
Duration: 3' 00" Manuscript
... rauscht der Brunnen (1999)
Instrumentation: for soprano, violin, bass clarinet and piano
Texts: Paul Celan
Duration: 3' 00" Manuscript
Mimicri (2000-2001)
Instrumentation: for two pianos
Duration: 10' 00" Manuscript
Action Shot (2000)
Live Music/dance/performance
Instrumentation: for soprano, piano, electronic tape and one female dancer
Texts: Jozsef Attila
Composition: Katrin Frauchiger and Michael Beck.
Duration: abendfüllend Manuscript
Code Decode (2003)
Choreographic project
Instrumentation: for soprano, piano, recorded material, electronics, lights and 5 dancers
Music to 'Code Decode' by the 'Compagnie Carole Meier'.
Composition: Katrin Frauchiger and Michael Beck.
Duration: abendfüllend Manuscript
Lontano (2003-2004)
Instrumentation: for chamber ensemble (1.1.1.0/0.0.0.0/pf/1.1.1.1.1)
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
Stroke (2004)
Choreographic project
Instrumentation: for soprano, piano, electronic keyboard, electronics, recorded material, lights and 5 dancers
Music for the choreography: 'Strophe' by 'Compagnie Carole Meier'.
Composition: Katrin Frauchiger and Michael Beck.
Duration: abendfüllend Manuscript
"... und die Nacht ist paillettenübersät" (2004-2005)
6 lieder based on texts by Meret Oppenheim
Instrumentation: for (mezzo-) soprano, flute and piano
Texts: Meret Oppenheim
Duration: 15' 00" Manuscript
"Estos dias azules" (2008)
Instrumentation: for violin, viola and violoncello
After a motto by Antonio Machado.
Duration: 8' 00" Manuscript
"Lü Yè – Travelling at night" (2010)
Instrumentation: for violo solo (with voice)
Texts: Bei Dao, Gu Cheng, Ping-Kwan Leung
Duration: 12' 00" Manuscript
crestfallen / cliff-hanging (2010)
Instrumentation: for marimba and euphonium
Duration: 6' 00" Manuscript
Repertory
Frangiz Ali-Zade: Three Watercolours für Sopran, Flöte, Klavier
Gilberte Amy: D'un desastre obscur pour voix de mezzo-soprano et clarinette en la
Alban Berg: 7 frühe Lieder für Sopran und Klavier
Luigi Dallapiccola: Due liriche di Anacreonte für Sopran und Ensemble
Franco Donatoni: Cinis per voce feminile e clarinetto basso
Friedhelm Döhl: 7 Haiku für Sopran, Flöte und Klavier
Morton Feldman: The Rothko Chapel für Sopran, Alt, doppelten gemischten Chor, Schlagzeug, Celesta,
Elena Firsowa: Forest Walks for soprano and ensemble
Frauchiger, Katrin: Es ist alles anders (1999) With more works of: Nadir Vassena, Aram Hovhannisyan, Rudolf Kelterborn, Arzas Voskanian, Eric Gaudibert
Gitarren-Duo Scheidegger/Schmidt (Grammont Porträt Nr. 90, 2004)