Page 7 - GC-July-August-24

The German Citizen • July - August 2024 • 7
Buffalo’s singing ethnic mix included

the Swiss Mixed Chorus Helvetia

t the beginning of June, the
Chopin Singing Society cel‐ Opa’s
Aebrated their quasquicenten‐
nial. As part of the 125th anniver‐ Attic
sary celebration a book launch party
was held for The Frederick Chopin by Greg
Singing Society of Buffalo, New
York, 1899 – 2024 a history of the Witul
organization I was commissioned to
write and had been working on for
the last four years. E. Rosset, Swiss Consul of New
While working on the book one
Leica announces the continuation of of the big takeaways for me was York City and Mr. Gasser who
would each give opening remarks.
compact digital cameras with the how interconnected the singing so‐ The evening would then see a
upcoming launch of the Leica D-Lux 8 cieties were across ethnic lines. A concert with the Swiss Mixed Cho‐
Dutchman could be the conductor
rus led by Carl Buehler and Swiss
for a Jewish group, a Pole for the Harmony of Hudson County, NJ un‐
TEANECK, N.J. PRNewswire: Germans, and Italian for the Poles.
Leica Camera AG will launch the The other thing you notice is that der the baton of Joseph A. Laufen‐
new Leica D-Lux 8 on July 2, just about every European nation in berg. This would be followed with a
2024. In 2003, the German pre- Western New York was represented. display by the Bavarian Folk
mium manufacturer introduced the Besides the big ones in the area, Dancers of Buffalo, a selection by
first D-Lux. Eight generations and the Germans, Italians, Poles, and the Yodel Sextet of Cleveland, a set
numerous special editions later, the Irish, other ethnic groups also spon‐ by the Schweizer Damenchor of NJ,
D-Lux has solidified its position in sored singers, the Hungarians, with the Swiss Folk Dance Group of
the top-quality segment of Leica's Greeks, and Ukrainians each having New York closing the night.
digital compact cameras. at least one society. One of the con‐ The afternoon of day two saw tion of Buehler and 40 musicians of
The new D-Lux 8 brings the tinent’s smallest nations, Switzer‐ the choirs taking over the Mary the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
quintessential Leica experience into land, had an outsized influence in Seaton Room of Kleinhans Music led by Genhart performing for
a more compact and accessible Store, and through authorized deal- the music scene of Buffalo with Hall to compete before Dr Herman 2,000 listeners in Kleinhans main
form. The overall user experience ers. The U.S. retail price will be their Swiss Mixed Chorus Helvetia, Genhart of the Eastman School of auditorium. The last day saw the
and iconic design are a testament to $1,595. especially when this group hosted Music, German music director Swiss singers visiting Niagara Falls
the excellence of the legendary Le- Customers can register at leica- the Swiss-American Saengerfest in Hans Hagen, and Cleveland Hill before taking part in a meeting and
ica brand, recognized globally as a camera.com/compact-cameras to 1950. High School Music Department the closing festivities at Genesee
leader in the field. be notified once the camera is avail- The roots of Swiss choral head Richard Seibold, for top hon‐ Park.
For enhanced user comfort, the able in store. groups in Buffalo can be traced to ors. The Swiss Mixed Chorus re‐
controls have been simplified and Leica Camera the Helvetia Saenger Verein. Born Of the categories of men, mained strong in the years after the
ergonomically repositioned, while Leica Camera AG is an interna- in the latter half of the 19th century women and mixed, the three judges Saengerfest but as the 1950s turned
the user interface, inspired by the tional, premium manufacturer of this early Swiss singing society chose one from Hudson County as into the ‘60s the membership began
popular Leica Q-Cameras, has be- cameras and sports optics. The leg- faded away after the passing of their the winner of the men, and one from to decline. The passing of Choir‐
come even more user friendly. The endary reputation of the Leica music director Carl August Goehle Toledo who won both women and master Buehler in 1969 marked the
D-Lux 8 features a 4/3" CMOS brand is based on a long tradition of in 1917. Seventeen years later Al‐ mixed. musical end of the Swiss Mixed
sensor offering 21 MP (effective 17 excellent quality, German crafts- bert Luscher, organist Carl Buehler, Day two ended with a mass cho‐ Chorus Helvetia.
MP), the fast Leica DC Vario-Sum- manship and German industrial de- and a handful of other local citizens rus of 637 singers under the direc‐
milux 10.9–34 mm f/1.7–2.8 sign, combined with innovative formed the Swiss Mixed Chorus,
ASPH. lens (35mm equivalent to technologies. later adding Helvetia to the name in
24-75 mm), intuitive design and An integral part of the brand's honor of the preceding group.
seamless connectivity with the Le- culture is the diversity of activities By the end of the 1940s, the
ica FOTOS app. The flash included the company undertakes for the ad- Helvetia group was already well es‐
with the camera further expands the vancement of photography. In addi- tablished within the Swiss Ameri‐
versatility of the D-Lux 8. tion to the Leica Galleries and Le- can Singing Alliance having come
In addition to the camera, a new ica Akademies spread around the in second in the 1939 convention.
range of accessories will be intro- world, there are the Leica Hall of As part of the 1948 convention held
duced. These include a hand grip, Fame Award and, in particular, the in Milwaukee it was decided that
carrying straps, wrist straps, and Leica Oskar Barnack Award the next convention would be in
leather protectors available in mul- (LOBA), which is considered one Buffalo and that Helvetia would be
tiple colors. Additional accessories of the most innovative sponsorship the hosting organization.
such as an automatic lens cap, soft awards existing today. By spring of 1950 Arthur
release buttons, and a selection of Furthermore, Leica Camera Gasser, president of the Helvetia
bags, including a hip bag, cross- AG, with its headquarters in Wet- and convention chairman, was
body bag, and equipment bag, ex- zlar, Hesse, and a second produc- putting together the final details for
pand the camera's portfolio. tion site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, the event. The festivities would
The Leica D-Lux 8 will be Portugal, has a worldwide network open on July 1 where Mayor Joseph
available globally on July 2, 2024 of its own national organizations Mruk would welcome the 21 cho‐
at all Leica Stores, the Leica Online and Leica Retail Stores.
Please find further information ruses, 600 singers, and 1,200 atten‐
at:leica-camera.com dees at a banquet held at the Hotel
SOURCE Leica Camera USA Statler. He was followed by Charles

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