Switzerland, Zurich – A free open air concert

Discovery awaits adventurous wanderers! Just bumbling around Zurich old city aimlessly but happily, we suddenly heard music flowing out a little street. We followed it up, up and around the corner only to come upon a whole orchestra complete with brass instruments sitting out in the open, just playing merrily away. This was in Glockengasse – Bell Street – in front of the Taverna Catalana, a place in Zurich famous for its Spanish cuisine.

People had already gathered to hear the lovely sound of music floating gently upwards and outwards in all directions, beckoning to all lovers of fine tune to dance right by. Business was bustling in the Tavern, as people found good musical accompaniment in a peck of tapas and a swig of beer. Thankfully for the tired feet, chairs which had floated beyond tables were available to catch a tired discoverer.

A flag was being swirled back and forth, bearing the banner, “Schützen-Spiel UOG Zürich”. A kind gentleman told me that the crowd, local music lovers, had all read about the event in the newspapers and had turned up for the pure enjoyment of sound, free sound.


Brass instruments in Bell Street

Street sound - and not by your normal buskers!

A word on the players:

Schützen-Spiel UOG Zürich started life as a Zurich army battalion band in 1935. Due to this, for normal events they play in Swiss Army uniform. On special occasions, they don the original and historical uniform of the Zurich troops dating back to the year 1861. Band/orchestra membership is open to all hobby musicians.  

As testimony to that, the cook of the Taverna Catalana (seen in photo) who was still as a statue, watching in total rapture suddenly took over the conductor’s podium still sporting his apron. We were treated to a sight fit for a new Ratatouille motto – ‘Anyone can play music’.

If you are in Zurich and want to catch an open air concert, their list of the concert venues for 2011 can be found at this link: Schützen-Spiel UOG Zürich - Concert Dates & Venues.