Why go
The festival links Lucerne's musical history with a major contemporary concert setting. Its program has included resident ensembles, visiting orchestras and soloists, giving classical-music travelers several kinds of performance to compare. The choice of concert can shape the whole evening beside the lake.
The full story
Lucerne Festival began in 1938 with concerts associated with the garden of Richard Wagner's villa. Arturo Toscanini conducted musicians brought together for an early festival concert. In the years when Nazi rule changed the musical life of Germany and Austria, Switzerland offered performers another place to gather. That background gives the festival a history beyond summer entertainment. The festival later became closely associated with the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre, the KKL, designed by Jean Nouvel. Its concerts have involved the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, guest orchestras and soloists. The Lucerne Festival Academy, founded by Pierre Boulez in 2004, added a focus on training young musicians in modern music. The range means the best choice depends on the current program: a large orchestral concert, a recital and contemporary work offer different experiences. Check the festival's published schedule before planning a visit around a particular ensemble or venue.