Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sooo-boring? Not at St John’s Church!

The classical music audience is facing a problem with the next generation. In the audience, not on stage – and, in my opinion, it’s of their own making. So, as a mezzo-soprano, I tend to sing for the ‘hearing-aid generation’ (No Front, as the young people say) and find myself wondering: who will we be playing and singing for in a few years’ time?

When I tell people of my generation that I’m a singer, I’m initially met with looks of pure admiration. But when I add ‘classical singer’, I can literally see the cliché supplanting that admiration. It’s hardly what you’d call cool.

My working environment is the polar opposite of classical music’s image. Apart from a few exceptions, I’m fortunate to be part of an open, creative and down-to-earth group of people who experience music as what I believe it to be – a source of enjoyment for everyone. And not a status symbol for the select few.

To kick off this series, I’d like to introduce a gem in District 5: St John’s Church. This small place of worship on Limmatplatz demonstrates just how diverse and open-minded church spaces can be. In collaboration with the ZHdK, a venue for classical music was created in 2005, where the doors are open to everyone.

Organist Tobias Willi and cantor Marco Amherd shape the musical programme in a humble, accessible and enchantingly high-quality manner. Amherd’s unspoken aim is to encourage people of all generations to sing. Alongside parent-and-child singing sessions and open singing weekends for everyone, there are highly recommended concerts featuring plenty of vocal music to enjoy here.

Firstly, the Zürich West Vocal Ensemble performs regularly: a choir of young, experienced amateur singers. I can also warmly recommend the Ripieno project ensemble, which is dedicated to Baroque music. In his organ concerts, Tobias Willi softens the old church walls with thunderous and singing pipes. From January 2027, pianist Piotr Fidelus’s series ‘Lieder an der Limmat’ will also begin, combining song cycles and piano works into exciting programmes. Anyone wishing to enjoy a recital before then should attend Franz Schubert’s ‘Winterreise’ with soprano Anna Gitschthaler and pianist Rebecca Ineichen.

Contemporary art also finds its way into the sacred vault. Various artists continually redefine the boundaries of this exhibition space. I myself have sung in front of an art installation made of aluminium foil, where, at certain frequencies, the foil began to resonate melodiously. An unplanned co-production.

For anyone making their way to St John’s Church, near Limmatplatz, and having to choose their first concert, I recommend the vespers. Every Tuesday at 6.30 pm, there is a combination of spoken word and music here. And to anyone put off by the word ‘spoken word’, let me say: It’s well worth it. The team of female pastors surprises with all manner of political, philosophical and poetic contributions. And occasionally, they nonchalantly refer to a ‘goddess’ instead of God. Even I, as an unbaptised agnostic, find myself drawn in.

You can also hide away discreetly in the gallery (up the stairs), enjoy the concert incognito and, if you’re lucky, tuck into the sandwich you’ve brought with you. As you can easily see, a great deal of culture takes place here in what is actually a rather small space. St John’s Church and its musical programme are – to appeal to Generation Z here – low-key peak.

‘Verstossen’
Art reception to mark the installation of Mickry 3
Tuesday, 3 November 2026, 6.30 pm

‘Watch out!’
Organ vespers to ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme’
Tuesday, 10 November 2026, 6.30 pm

‘Die Winterreise’
Staged song cycle with light installation
Friday, 13 November 2026, 7.30 pm

‘Deborah’s Power’
Choral Vespers by the ZHdK Choir
Tuesday, 17 November 2026, 6.30 pm

‘Je l’ayme bien’
Autumn concert with the Swiss Vocal Consort
Friday, 20 November 2026, 7.30 pm

‘Mein Vogel’
Literary vespers with texts by Ingeborg Bachmann
Tuesday, 24 November 2026, 6.30 pm

Further information on music at St John’s Church here.