Swiss musicians revive forgotten composer Fröhlich

Swiss musicians are bringing the work of Friedrich Theodor Fröhlich back to concert halls, with a previously unperformed symphony set for its first performance in Brugg. SRF reports that the Aargau-born composer, once little recognised, is now regarded as Switzerland’s leading composer of the early Romantic period.

Alexandre Clerc, who leads the Wettingen Chamber Orchestra 65, spent months working through Fröhlich’s old handwritten scores to prepare the symphony. The orchestra will perform it at the 10th Fröhlich Day in Brugg on November 7.

Fröhlich was born in Brugg in 1803 and showed exceptional talent from a young age. He travelled to Berlin to study music but struggled to establish himself there. Back in Aargau, he worked as a music teacher and conductor. He later suffered a severe depression, and, after his marriage broke down, died by suicide at 33 by jumping into the cold Aare River.

For decades, many of his compositions remained unpublished in archives. The International Friedrich Theodor Fröhlich Society has been working to review his musical legacy, prepare selected works in modern notation and organise performances at an annual event in Brugg.

Fröhlich wrote more than 700 works, including symphonies, string quartets, chamber music, songs and choral pieces. SRF music editor David Schwarb said the rediscovered string quartets had surprised musicians, while cautioning that Fröhlich’s music was not as epoch-making as that of Beethoven or Schubert. He said the renewed interest also highlighted the quality of music composed in Switzerland in the 19th century.

The Wettingen Chamber Orchestra 65 will perform Fröhlich’s symphony at the Reformed City Church in Brugg at 7.30pm on November 7.