Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1956

Switzerland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1956 with two songs: "Template:Lang" written by Georg Betz-Stahl, and "Template:Lang" composed by Géo Voumard, with lyrics by Émile Gardaz. Both songs were performed by Lys Assia. The Swiss participating broadcaster, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR), selected its entries through a national final. In addition, Template:Lang (RSI), on behalf of SRG SSR, was the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Template:Lang in Lugano. "Template:Lang" was the first-ever entry from Switzerland performed in the Eurovision Song Contest, and the first-ever entry in German in the contest; while "Template:Lang", that eventually won the contest, was the first-ever winner in its history.

Before Eurovision

For their national selection, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) opened a public submission period between January and 20 February 1956 for interested songwriters to submit their compositions.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref> Only songwriters with Swiss citizenship or having been residing in Switzerland for at least ten years were allowed to participate.<ref name=":5" /> 402 songs were submitted, with half of them with German lyrics, a third in French and the rest in Italian.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref> A jury assembled in Lugano chose eleven of them for the national final.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Lang

The national final called Template:Lang was held at the Radio Lausanne Studio de la Sallaz in Lausanne on 28 April 1956 at 20:45 CET (19:45 UTC).<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> It was broadcast on TSR and SRG as well as on the radio stations Beromünster, Sottens and Monte Ceneri.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":2" /> Template:Ill commented the final for the German-speaking radio and television.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The final was directed by Template:Ill, and presented by Template:Ill.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref> The studio audience consisted of invited guests and journalists.<ref name="Monique">Template:Cite news</ref>

Eleven songs were sung by Jo Roland, Anita Traversi and Lys Assia.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> They were accompanied by the Orchestra Radiosa under the direction of Fernando Paggi.<ref name=":2" /> Seven songs were sung in French, three in German, one in Italian.<ref name="Feuille">Template:Cite news</ref> Four entries had been written by Radio Lausanne's own Émile Gardaz and Géo Voumard.<ref name=":3" /> The accordionist duo Les Frères Domergue and the harmonica group Trio Hill Billy's were interval acts.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The puppet group Compagnie des marottes and André Robert seem to have also participated in the show.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

A professional jury of nine members watched the songs from inside the studio, and then decided the winning songs in a secret vote, with three members each representing each of the languages German, French and Italian.<ref name=":3" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> One of the jury members was Father Kaelin.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite news</ref>

The winners were the songs "Refrains", composed by Géo Voumard and written by Émile Gardaz, and, "Template:Lang", written and composed by Georg Betz-Stahl. Both songs were performed by Lys Assia.<ref name=":4" /><ref name="nyt">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

National final – 28 April 1956<ref name=":7" /><ref name="composers">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

R/O	Artist	Song	Language	Songwriters
				Composer	Lyricist
1	Jo Roland	"Template:Lang"	French	Géo Voumard	Émile Gardaz
2	Lys Assia	"Template:Lang"	German	Template:Ill	Fredy Schulz
3	Lys Assia	"Template:Lang"	German	Georg Betz-Stahl
4	Jo Roland	"Template:Lang"	French	Géo Voumard	Émile Gardaz
5	Anita Traversi	"Template:Lang"	Italian	Guido Zanzi	Luciano Bonato
6	Jo Roland	"Template:Lang"	French	Géo Voumard	Émile Gardaz
7	Lys Assia	"Template:Lang"	French	Roger Pittet	Template:Ill
8	Jo Roland	"Template:Lang"	French	René de Pascale	Gilby Caillet
9	Jo Roland	"Template:Lang"	French	Pierre Gisin	Jean Destoy
10	Lys Assia	"Template:Lang"	German	Georg Betz
11	Lys Assia	"Refrains"Template:Efn	French	Géo Voumard	Émile Gardaz

At Eurovision

Lys Assia (pictured in 1957) won the Eurovision Song Contest 1956

"Template:Lang" was performed second and "Template:Lang" was performed ninth in the running order, both following the Template:Esccnty and preceding Template:Esccnty's two entries.<ref name="Roxburgh" /> Both of the Swiss entries were conducted at the contest by the musical director Fernando Paggi.<ref name="Roxburgh" /> "Template:Lang" was arranged by Mario Robbiani.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Each participating broadcaster appointed two jury members who voted by giving between one and ten points to each song, including those representing their own country.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> All jury members were colocated in a separate room in the venue in Lugano and followed the contest via a television set.<ref name="Roxburgh">Template:Cite book</ref> The Swiss jury members were Father Pierre Kaelin and Rolf Liebermann who also acted as president of the jury.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After the jury had held its vote, "Refrain" was announced as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1956.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite book</ref> The placements of all other participating entries are not known.<ref name=":6" />

The final in Lugano was broadcast in Switzerland on TSR (with commentary by Template:Ill) and SRG (with commentary by Template:Ill) as well as on the radio stations Beromünster, Sottens and Monte Ceneri.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Excerpts from the final were rebroadcast on Radio Monte Ceneri on 10 June 1956 at 21:45 CET.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>