The Double Bass
Date and Location
Wednesday · August 26, 2026 · 7:30 PM,
Attic of the Violin Making School
Performers
Christian Sutter, double bass
Program
Süskind, "The Double Bass", a monologue for a double bassist
Description
A monologue by Patrick Süskind about an aging double bassist
A ninety-minute concert reading marking the 75th birthday of a seasoned orchestral double bassist: Christian Sutter, known as "The Poet of the Double Bass." Having served for 35 years as principal double bassist of the Basel Symphony Orchestra and as a founding member of Sir András Schiff’s Cappella Andrea Barca since 1999, he is intimately familiar with the highs and lows of orchestral life. He offers a glimpse into his profoundly deep musical soul and the depths of the orchestra pit. He struggles with his ambivalent relationship to the most un-soloistic and unwieldy of string instruments—one that is always in the way, and that you cannot carry, but must lug around. Nevertheless, after all these years, he remains firmly convinced that he plays the single most important instrument in the orchestra: the double bass! It doesn't get more authentic than this.
Performance rights: Diogenes Verlag AG, Zurich
Biography
"... The older one, who has as much hair as the others combined—not flowing or curly hair, but the black, frizzy hair of an Abyssinian, wearing glasses—is learning the double bass at the conservatory. He has no intention of disappearing into a symphony orchestra for life; music is provocation. I uncork and understand ..."
Max Frisch, Journal 1966-1971
The hair of the musician in question—who is indeed Christian Sutter—has thinned in the meantime, and contrary to his intentions at the time, he did go on to serve for thirty-five years as principal double bassist in the Basel Symphony Orchestra. But to say he disappeared into it? No, that certainly cannot be claimed. In addition to his wide-ranging work as an enthusiastic orchestral and chamber musician, including as a founding member of Sir András Schiff’s Cappella Andrea Barca, the "Poet of the Double Bass"—sought after not only as a musician but also as a dramaturg and speaker—has made a name for himself with his intelligently curated literature-and-music programs, such as the literary chamber music series "Titus beflügelt" in Basel.
THANK YOU
We would like to thank all our sponsors and foundations. We also extend a special thank you to all those supporters who wish to remain anonymous.
Thank you
We would like to thank all the funding bodies that make this concert series possible. We also thank those supporters who wish to remain anonymous.
