Tribute to Michel Corboz

Michel Corboz, a choral and orchestral conductor from Fribourg who was born in Lausanne, died on September 2 at the age of 87. He leaves a deep and indelible mark on choral life in French-speaking Switzerland. Yes, because choirs and the human voice were certainly his passion!

Founder of the Ensemble Vocal de Lausanne, which he directed for almost 50 years, titular conductor of the Gulbenkian Choir in Lisbon, professor of choral conducting at the Geneva Conservatoire and composer. Michel Corboz devotes his life to the vocal arts, and his charisma unites a whole generation of singers, choirmasters and conductors. He has trained most of today’s leading choral conductors.

Michel Corboz can claim to have been a prophet in his own country. He was awarded several prizes by various Vaud and Swiss foundations. At the same time, he achieved international renown through numerous awards and, above all, critical and public acclaim.

Last June, as part of Geneva’s first Haydn-Mozart Festival, the specialist in the sacred repertoire came out of retirement and returned to conducting for one evening. Conducting Mozart’s Mass in C minor, he once again showed his nobility and gave his farewell concert.

In 1994, he confided to Le Journal de Genève: “I try to make the voice express itself as an act of love. Because a sound that is not sensual, a voice that has no color or smell, is just noise. Thanks to his many recordings, his love of voice and music will stay with us forever.

Link

Michel Corboz on BCUL’s Patrinum platform.

See and hear:

In tribute to Michel Corboz, RTS opens its archives: Michel Corboz, a major figure in vocal art, is gone and Michel Corboz, l’âme musicienne.