Patrick Demenga in an interview

“ Feu sacré! For me,

Born in 1962, Patrick Demenga studied at the Bern Conservatory, with Boris Pergamenschikow in Cologne, and with Harvey Shapiro in New York. Several awards mark the beginning of his career, and today he is considered one of the most renowned cellists internationally. As a soloist and chamber musician, he performs regularly at major festivals and in prestigious music centers, collaborating with distinguished musicians (such as Heinz Holliger, Mario Venzago, and Dennis Russell Davies) and orchestras (including the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Camerata Bern, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande). Numerous radio and television broadcasts, as well as record and CD recordings, have brought him to the attention of international audiences. Demenga leads a concert performance class at the Lausanne Conservatory and teaches various international masterclasses.

In the following interview, Patrick Demenga talks about the Meiringen Music Festival, his brother Thomas Demenga and his time as a music lecturer during the lockdown.

Classicpoint.net: You are the artistic director of the Meiringen Music Festival, one of the few festivals taking place this summer. How were you able to ensure its feasibility?
We firmly believed that things would reopen. We kept in constant contact with our musicians to analyze the situation, and they were all so supportive and willing to come that it gave us the courage to persevere. Of course, we had to develop a safety plan, which we are already revising. We are working with social distancing between groups and contact tracing, as well as providing masks.

What is the theme of this year's festival, and how did you come up with it?
Feu sacré! That means to be passionate about something, to pursue it with fervor. For me, it's a way of life, something that constantly accompanies me, even outside of music. I find every minute wasted when I do something without passion. For example, if a chef prepares a meal with feu sacré, it will delight the guest. It's the same in music. I've been carrying this theme around with me for a long time, and it seems particularly fitting for the 60th anniversary. Without the feu sacré of so many people, a festival like this wouldn't have survived for so long. And it continues to thrive and has developed beautifully.

How did you personally experience this coronavirus lockdown period?
I felt as if the planet had taken a deep breath. In my life, everything slowed down considerably due to the lockdown. All concerts were canceled, and there was no more travel. I found the time restorative. I had a lot of time for myself and my family. I was fortunate enough to remain healthy. But I was also far removed from culture, which was perhaps also restorative.

You lead a concert training class in Lausanne. How did you support and teach your students during this time?
I continued teaching. However, the lessons took place online. The university was closed for in-person classes. Teaching music online presented particular challenges: My students largely come from abroad, the internet connection was often poor, and the students felt very isolated while practicing. They sent videos from their rooms where they were practicing, which, of course, wasn't ideal in terms of sound quality.

You are interested in the juxtaposition of great composers – great works – with contemporary music. What do you see as the appeal of this musical exploration?
Every era has its own unique musical language, and learning to understand these languages ​​and discovering their messages and emotions has always fascinated me. Often, one finds the same archetypal feelings, but expressed with completely different means. New music opens our ears and changes our listening habits, so that suddenly we hear "old" music in a completely different way.

Her brother is eight years older and also an internationally renowned concert cellist. They have many joint projects. What was it like in your youth to have a brother eight years older with the same career goal?
Besides my brother, I have five other siblings, all of whom work in art, theater, and music. As the youngest child, I grew up in a very creative and musical household from the very beginning. Since we both play the cello, my brother and I have always shared an artistic friendship. Naturally, this friendship has grown, as he was already studying abroad when I was still at music school.

When did you decide to pursue the cello as a profession?
Even as a child, I knew I wanted to be a cellist. The warmth of the instrument, its deep sound, and then there was the inspiration from the many musicians who came and went in our house, the numerous rehearsals that took place there, and the social life that went with it.

What are your next projects?
The music festival week is my first project after the lockdown. I'm especially looking forward to it. Unfortunately, several other projects in the summer were cancelled. But if everything continues to develop positively, I will be playing concerts and giving masterclasses in Austria and Italy in the autumn.

What are your passions besides music?
I'm interested in philosophy, physics, and consciousness research. I'm also a passionate cook, enjoy spending time in nature, and as a Bernese, you'll often find me in the Aare River in the summer.

Interview by Florian Schär | Classicpoint.net | July 1, 2020

Next concerts

June 14, 2026 - Piano trios by Mozart, Mahler and Brahms with Hiroko Sakagami