Music

As a professional chamber orchestra, the Berner Kammerorchester is aware of the tradition it represents, performing both well-known and unknown works from the Baroque to the Modern, contemporary pieces and commissioning original compositions.

The orchestra is able to boast 75 world premieres and over 200 Bernese or Swiss premieres. Since 1995 the Berner Kammerorchester has been led by Johannes Schläfli.

The group's music is known for its subtle and completely homogenous sound, freshness and exceptional style in all areas of the chamber music repertoire, from Baroque to Contemporary.

Camerata Bern's outstanding qualities have lead to its collaboration with acclaimed artists, numerous world tours and international awards for its recordings.

In Bern the Camerata Bern performs concert series in the Zentrum Paul Klee and in the Kultur-Casino. The great success of their performances and recordings underscores the ensemble's importance as the musical ambassador of the culture city Bern.

The Bernese Concert Choir Canto Classico was founded in 2007 by the artistic director Willi Derungs. The choir provides not only a Concert Choir but also has a powerful vocal ensemble for engagments and smaller concerts. Canto Classico has set the goal for interest in particular young singers in classical choral music.

The Concert Choir has a wide repetoire ranging from baroque music to contemporary compositions and includes literature from opera and operetta. Canto Classico performs several times a year in the French Church of Berne or in the Culture-Casino of Berne. The professionalism and the musical quality of the Concert Choir have lead to an invitation to perform in Italy. Interested singers are welcome.

The professional Big Band Swiss Jazz Orchestra offers in Bern a concert season that is unique in all of Europe –  "Monday Big Band Jazz Nights" in the famous Bierhübeli concert venue.

The Swiss Jazz Orchestra's concerts follow a different theme each month, such as "Latin Night", "Tribute Night", "Groove Night", and "Gala Night", an event that draws VIP guests.

The concerts start at around 20:00 and include two sets with an intermission. No reservations are required. Thanks to support from sponsors, the admission prices are very modest.

The Meisterzyklus in Bern is a venerable concert series for classical music in Bern. For decades the organization has been bringing the stars of the classical music scene to perform in the Kultur-Casino's acoustically outstanding concert hall.

Experience in the selection of artists, creativity in the program's conception and careful scheduling all contribute to making the Mesitersykuls a first-rate concert series in Bern.

The Bern Symphony Orchestra is known for eclectic concerts, working with renowned conductors and soloists and also for guest performances in Switzerland and abroad.

The Bern Symphony Orchestra numbers among Switzerland's great orchestras. Some 100 musicians play approximately 50 concerts each season that includes symphony concerts, special concerts, afternoon performances, family concerts and matinees.

The main performance venue is the spacious, festive room in the Bern Kultur- Casino. Besides performing concerts, this well-established music ensemble is also active as the theater orchestra for the Bern City Theater.