Issue 4/2026 – «Generations» Special Feature»

RMS - Aug. 27, 2026

Focus

Straddling Two Generations
Interview. Ilva Eigus was already considered a star while she was still a minor. Born in 2007 in Zurich, she tells us how she gets along, in her line of work, with older orchestra musicians and a graying audience—as well as with her father and occasional collaborator, pianist Nik Bärtsch.

Guitarists and DJs on Tour at Nursing Homes
For the past two years, the young band from Vaud, Léa & the Lions, has been working on an unusual project: getting seniors to dance.

The Curious Shift in Musical Tastes
For a long time, opinions have differed across generations regarding how much interest people should take in the latest music trends. But in this regard as well, the Internet has brought about a significant upheaval.

Toward New Horizons
An article that directly concerns us: RMS is undergoing major changes. Writer Jean-Damien Humair reflects on his long collaboration with Editor-in-Chief Katrin Spelinova and writer Pia Schwab, who are both retiring.

Chat: Phanee and Laurent discuss their relationship
Singer Phanee de Pool talks with her father, who is also her manager. Balancing work and family life.

(Italics: French summaries of German articles)

Reviews

New books, albums, sheet music

Echo

(The space available in the print edition is not sufficient for everything we wish to publish. This table of contents also lists articles that only appear online, or of which the print edition contains only an extract. Most of these articles were published before the print edition).

End and Beginning at the Ittingen Charterhouse
The 30th Ittingen Pentecost Concerts, held from May 22 to 25, 2026, focused on the theme of «stopping.» – On the festival’s inaugural edition under the artistic direction of Reto Bieri and the vertical dimension of the musical experience.

From whale dances to wildfires, the Anthropocene is setting Verbier ablaze
The majestic serenity of the mountains transports us to a sense of eternity and immutability. Yet, in the midst of climate change, the mountains are suffering, the glaciers are melting, and this scorching summer is suffocating us in every corner of the world. The August 1 concert, «Voice of Nature; The Anthropocene,» echoes this reality.

Swiss Sounds at the Vilnius Festival
There are a surprising number of connections between the two small countries of Lithuania and Switzerland. This was also evident at this year's Vilnius Festival.

In Montreux, 80 Septembers of Music
It is one of the oldest classical music festivals in Switzerland. The Septembre Musical is celebrating its 80th anniversary in Montreux with a mix of emerging talent and established favorites, under the inspired direction of Mischa Damev.

Exploring Creativity
The «Atelier Création» took place for the first time at the Stellwerk Basel in late May. It is a small festival initiated by the Basel Music Academy that is dedicated to creativity at the intersection of amateur and professional practice.