Musinfo: Interpreters

Näf Fritz

(24. 10. 1943)

Näf Fritz
Buchfinkenweg 4
8400 Winterthur (ZH)
Schweiz

Tel: +41 (0)52 212 79 36

www.fritz-naef.ch

Genre: Classical Music

Professional activity: Interpreters

Biography

* 24. 10. 1943.

Fritz Näf was born October 24, 1943, in Weiach (Zurich) and, after completing his obligatory education (1958-1963), attended the Shiers teacher training seminar in Graubunden. He studied solo singing at the music schools of Zurich and Basel under Sylvia Gähwiller (1909-1999) between 1964 and 1969. From 1964 until 1965 he studied and graduated as a teacher of early musical education and a teacher at the basic course level. Between 1969 and 1973 he attended the 'Staatlichen Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg im Breisgau' (the state-run school of music in Freiburg im Breisgau) and received his concert diploma after studying under professor Brigitte Münz. He took part in master classes headed by Ernst Häfliger (*1919) in Zurich (1970 and 1971), Jennie Tourel (1900-1973) in New York (1971/1972) and Kurt Equiluz (*1929) in Stuttgart (1979). He received further training from Kurt Huber (Winterthur) between 1974 and 1979. Between 1977 and 1980 he studied choral conducting and, from 1979, orchestral conducting, under the composer and director Erich Schmid (1907-2000).
After a short period employed as a primary school teacher Näf taught as a music teacher at basic level (1964-1969), as a teacher for solo singing at the teacher's seminar in Liestal (1973-1976) and, from the same year onwards, as a teacher (professional training) with the Music Pedagogic Society of Switzerland. He also taught the subjects solo singing and vocal ensemble with the 'Schola Cantorum Basiliensis' (1976-1986) as well as at the 'Musikschule und Konservatorium Winterthur' (Music School and Conservatory of Winterthur (1986-2000)). From the first of June 1969 until 1978 Näf undertook the development and the management of the Youth Music School Reinach in Basel Land. He later became, in 1976 until 1986, the leader of the course for the education of teachers for early musical education and basic course level teaching at the 'Musik-Akademie der Stadt Basel' (Music Academy of the City of Basel). From 1976 until 1986 he was responsible for the basic level course in music at the schools in the city of Basel. Between 1977 and 1978 he was the director of the 'Funkkolleg Musik' for Switzerland. From 1986 until 2000 he stood as director of the Music School and Conservatory of Winterthur and thereafter as the principal of the newly-founded 'Hochschule Musik und Theater Zürich' (Zurich School of Music and Theatre). Between 1991 and 2000 he presided over the Conference for the Directors of Swiss Conservatories and Music Schools. Näf was a member of the board of directors of the Othmar Schoeck Society between 1988 and 1992. He has been president of the Willy Burkhard Society since 2004.
Näf was already working as a singer in Switzerland in 1961 and, after 1969, as a concert and opera singer in the whole of Europe. By 1970 he was a member of the ensemble 'Ricercare', founded by the oboist Michel Piguet (1932-2004) in 1964. This ensemble was highly focussed on performances based on the insights afforded by historical performance practice. In the following years Näf worked together as a singer with Hans-Martin Linde (*1930), very intensively with the cantor of the 'Dresdner Kreuzkirche' Martin Flämig (1913-1998) and together with Paul Sacher (1906-1999). As an opera singer he worked in collaboration with the 'Aargauer Opern Bühne' (1969/1970), in 'Zar und Zimmermann' (1837) by Albert Lortzing (1801-1851) as well as in other productions. He was a long term member of the Lugano based 'Coro della Radio Svizzera Italiana' conducted by Edwin Löhrer (1906-1991). Näf also worked in the proceeding years together with Klaus Knall (Zurich), Etienne Krähenbühl (Basel), André Charlet (Lausanne), Helmut Rilling (Stuttgart), Ulrich Bremsteller (Berlin), Räto Tschupp (Zurich), Jakob Kobelt (Zurich), August Wenzinger (Basel), Serge Commissione (Göteburg), Paul Colleaux (Nantes), Willi Gohl (Winterthur) and Michel Corboz (Lausanne).
As a teacher at the 'Schola Cantorum Basiliensis' Näf founded the professional vocal ensemble 'Basler Madrigalisten' in 1978. In 1997 he founded the 'Schweizer Kammerchor' in collaboration with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich. Since 2000 Näf is the full-time director of the 'Schweizer Kammerchor' and the 'Basler Madrigalisten'. He has been a guest conductor of various choirs and orchestras at home and abroad including with 'Radio della Svizzera Italiana Lugano', the orchestra of the 'Musikkollegium Winterthur', 'Concerto Köln' and 'L'arpa festante' Munich, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Chamber Orchestra Kiev and the Philharmonic orchestra Tscherniwz. He has been the guest conductor of the 'Choeur de Radio France' since 2000 following an invitation by Kurt Masur (*1927). Numerous radio and television productions and CD recordings over the last thirty years document the work of Fritz Näf.

Lukas Näf

Repertory

Samuel Gottlob Auberlen: Christus hat uns ein Vorbild gelassen

Samuel Gottlob Auberlen: Sein Odem ist schwach

Heidi Baader-Nobs: Lamento for sixteen voices a-cappella

Walter Baer: Psalmus Nonus for soprano, tenor, mixed choir and organ

Manfred Barbarini Lupus: Symphoniae

Adolf Brunner: Sprüche

Willy Burkhard: "Christi Leidensverkündigung", op. 65 for tenor, small mixed choir and organ

Willy Burkhard: "Die Verkündigung Mariae", op. 51 for mixed a-cappella choir

Willy Burkhard: "Die Sintflut", op. 97 for mixed a-capella choir

Willy Burkhard: "Das Ezzolied", op. 19 for mixed a-cappella choir (four-eight-part)

Werner Bärtschi: und siehe... for three choirs, strings (3.3.3.2.1) and glass harmonica

Gion Antoni Derungs: Maranata

Martin Derungs: Bündner Wirren, op. 37

Philipp Eichenwald: In memoriam I.B.

Friedrich Theodor Fröhlich: Gnade sei mit euch for mixed a-cappella choir

Friedrich Theodor Fröhlich: Selig sind die Toten for mixed a-cappella choir

Daniel Glaus: Sunt lacrimae rerum for two male lectors, female lector, female speaker, male speaker, soprano, alto, baritone, 16 vocalists, 4 choirs and instrumental ensemble

Daniel Glaus: Teschuvah for sixteen voices

Beat Gysin: Skamander for choir, soprano, bass, percussion, electronic tape and live electronics

Arthur Honegger: Les Aventures du Roi Pausole, H. 76 for voices, ballet, mixed choir (SATB) and orchestra (1.1.1.1.sx/1.1.1.0/timp.tri.cym.suspcym.dm.sleighbells.gong.bassdm.castanets.woodblock/pf.cel/str)

Klaus Huber: Schwarzerde

Klaus Huber: Ñudo que ansí juntáis for 16 solo voices (each 4 SATB) in 3 groups (SSSAA/TTTBB/SMezATBarB)

Klaus Huber: Agnus Dei cum recordatione for countertenor, 2 tenors, bass-baritone, renaissance lute, 2 fiddles (or guitar), 2 violas

Klaus Huber: Lamentationes Sacrae et Profanae ad Responsoria Iesualdi for six coices (cantus, sextus, altus, tenor, quintus bassus. (SMezbC2TB-bar)), theorbo (third-tone tuned guitar and basset horn (bcl))

Klaus Huber: Erniedrigt - Geknechtet - Verlassen - Verachtet... for soli, choirs, orchestral groups, electronic tapes, electronic and projections

Klaus Huber: Beati Pauperes II for small orchestra (2.pic.1.1.bcl.1/3.1.0.0/timp.4perc/pf/gtr/4.0.3.3.2) with choir (ad lib.) and seven single voices (SMezA2TBarB)

Rudolf Kelterborn: Tres Cantiones sacrae for seven -part mixed choir

Rudolf Kelterborn: Drei Fragmente für Chor

Rudolf Kelterborn: Five Chants on Poems by Herbert Meier for mixed choir, clarinet, horn, trumpet and trombone

Mischa Käser: mirliton for voice(s), piano and four guitars

Frank Martin: Le vin herbé for twelve solo voices, 2vn, 2ca, 2vc, db, pf

Frank Martin: Et la vie l'emporta for alto solo and baritone solo, small vocal and instrumental ensmble (2fl.ob.obdam/hp.pf.posorg/6vn.2va.2vc.db)

Frank Martin: Ariel for mixed choir (SATB)

Frank Martin: Messe for double a-cappella choir

Roland Moser: ... über das Gras, und Erinnern und Wind

Mani Planzer: 6. Orchester auf Zeit: Il canto delle Balene for mixed choir, orchestra, jazz ensemble, organ, piano and two alphorns

Erich Schmid: Vier Chöre, op. 15 for a-cappella choir

Bettina Skrzypczak: Acaso for choir (4S4A4T4B), clarinet (bcl), violoncello and percussion

Hans Studer: Bittet, so wird euch gegeben

Hans Studer: Der Herr wird mich erlösen

Hans Studer: Lasset eure Lenden umgürtet sein

Hans Studer: So spricht der Herr: Ich will dich unterweisen

Hans Studer: Auf Dich habe ich gehoffet, Herr

Hans Studer: Gelobt sei Gott im höchsten Thron

Hans Studer: Siehe, es kommt die Zeit

Hans Studer: Hallelujah! Ich will dem Herrn danken

Hans Studer: Es ist das Licht noch bei euch

Robert Suter: Ballade von des Cortez Leuten. Nach der Ballade von Bert Brecht for speaking voice, mixed choir, speaking choir and chamber orchestra (1(pic).1.2(2bcl).0/1.1.1.1/3perc/hp/pf/str)

Franz Tischhauser: Das Nasobem

Franz Tischhauser: Antiphonarium profanum

Balz Trümpy: Polyptychon for vocal ensemble

Balz Trümpy: Sunt etenim pinnae volucres mihi for eight a-cappella voices

Jacques Wildberger: "Ihr meint, das Leben sei kurz...". Cantata on Short Japanese Poems for choir, choir soli numbers, and instrumental ensemble (fl.cl.bcl/pf/perc/2vn.va.db)

Hans Wüthrich: Glühende Uebergänge in Rot, Orange und leuchtendem Blau for vocal ensemble (3S3A3T3B) and 2 keyboards

Hans Wüthrich: Sky, seated man/seated woman, train, garden-pool, cut for eight solo voices (2S2A2T2B) and two keyboards

Jürg Wyttenbach: Sutil und Laar for mixed choir and four-handed piano

Discography

Grammont Sélection 5 (Musiques Suisses Nr. MGB CTS-M 137, 2012)