© House of Switzerland

23 May 2012 from 12.30 to 14.30
9 Montague Close, London Bridge, SE1 9DD

Visit Glaziers Hall for a "virtual tour" - plus the chance to win some Swiss goodies in a free competition!

All are welcome!

© Swiss Embassy

The Ambassador’s four-day official visit to Guernsey and Jersey from 26 to 29 March reaffirmed the importance of the links between Switzerland and the Channel Islands. He and his wife received a warm welcome from the Lieutenant-Governors of Guernsey and Jersey. Discussions with the Baillif and the Chief Minister of both Islands, senior government officials, regulatory authorities and business leaders focused on bilateral relations, the global economic and regulatory developments, and the impact of the new EU rules on third jurisdictions. The Ambassador was accompanied by the Embassy’s Economic Counsellor, Fabrice Filliez, and the Honorary Consul of Switzerland to the Channel Islands, Albert Good.

Fête de la Francophonie

London’s Trafalgar Square came alive to the sounds of “music en français” on Saturday 17 March, as artists and musicians from across the French-speaking world came together to celebrate the International Day of La Francophonie. Swiss artist Noga gave a lively performance mixing acapella vocals with vibrant rhythms, to show (in her words) that “there is more to Switzerland than cows, cheese and chocolate!”.

The day-long festival was attended by HE Mr Abdou Diouf, the Secretary General of La Francophonie, and The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, former Governor-General of Canada and Grand Témoin of La Francophonie for the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Ambassador of Switzerland and many colleagues from the francophone Embassies.

The Swiss ‘marquee’ at the event was also a platform to promote the House of Switzerland, the national Olympics hospitality centre that will be based at Glaziers Hall by London Bridge throughout the Olympic Games, and proved very popular with visitors who could sample Lindt chocolates and enter an Olympic-themed competition organised together with Switzerland Tourism. 

 www.lefrancaisjadore.com

© Paul Sacher Foundation

The legacy of Swiss conductor and patron of the arts Paul Sacher was the subject of a concert, exhibition and conference (“Sacher Perspectives”) at Cardiff University’s School of Music on 16-17 March, part of a collaboration between the Embassy, Cardiff University, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and BBC Radio 3.

Ambassador Anton Thalmann attended a concert by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and its Swiss conductor Thierry Fischer, featuring works commissioned by Sacher including Swiss composers Honegger and Frank Martin. These were juxtaposed with Stravinsky’s Basle Concerto in D and Lutoslawski’s Double Concerto to underline the internationalism of Sacher’s legacy. Around 200 people attended the concert at Cardiff’s Hoddinott Hall, which was also broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Paul Sacher (1906-1999) was one of the last century’s great patrons of 20th century music and commissioned more than 200 works by the world’s leading composers such as Stravinsky, Honegger and Bartok. His eponymous Foundation houses one of the world's most important musical manuscript collections, and is a major international research archive for 20th and 21st century music.

 Paul Sacher Foundation

© FDFA, Presence Switzerland

Switzerland’s success in promoting skills and training for young people is increasingly seen as a model the UK should follow and a reference point for politicians and policymakers. During the recent UK Apprenticeship Week, Skills Minister John Hayes joined around 100 guests for a speech by Dr Ursula Scharnhorst, Director of Educational Research and Diagnostics at the Federal Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, on the subject “Excellence in Practice – the Swiss Model.” In Switzerland, two thirds of young people choose apprenticeships in 300 industry and business categories. The combination of company and school-based training produces the skills that employers need and helps drive the whole economy. Dr Scharnhorst’s speech follows on from Switzerland’s support of the UK National Apprenticeships Awards and Switzerland’s 3rd place at the World Skills Competition in London last year.