Zurich Opera House
The unique ensemble of the Zurich Opera House enchants domestic and international audiences alike with its performances from both the classical and modern repertoire.
Opera is one of Europe’s great cultural achievements, offering emotion and enjoyment to audiences around the world. Nowhere is the marriage of music and drama so perfect. Nowhere is human destiny, love and desire played out so intensely. Opera seduces and touches the heart. As an artistic medium it has served as a shared vehicle of communication across continents and generations, and millions of people have been – and continue to be – passionately drawn to its performance. In Zurich, too, opera attracts a strong audience, ensuring that this unique cultural heritage continues to flourish.
Swiss Re recognises the importance of this genre and is a long-time sponsor of the Zurich Opera House. With over 300 opera performances, ballets, concerts and recitals, the Opera House is one of the leading venues in Europe. Swiss Re acts as main sponsor for one production per season; in 2007/2008 the company is providing financial support for the performance of "Genoveva" by Robert Schumann.
The famous Austrian conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt describes Genoveva as “a modern emotional drama that is entirely un-classical and almost absurd. It throws up questions, but refuses to give answers. Instead of seeking to moralise, it simply demonstrates certain truths. Some things are incurable. Schumann is interested in presenting inner states, the inevitability of some events and the irresistible pull of certain forces in life.”
"It is always a great pleasure to realise a project together with Swiss Re, in which artistic quality is at the heart of the production. Working with art is a truly enriching human experience."
– Alexander Pereira
