Why go
For listeners choosing among Lucerne Festival concerts, the orchestra has a distinct identity: musicians gather as a festival ensemble instead of playing together as a year-round local orchestra. Its connection to Abbado and the festival's opening tradition adds context to a performance.
The full story
The festival had an orchestra from its early years, including a concert conducted by Arturo Toscanini in 1938. Later versions drew heavily on Swiss musicians. Claudio Abbado led a newly assembled Lucerne Festival Orchestra at the 2003 festival, bringing together players from the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and other ensembles. The group was conceived as a gathering of musicians for the festival, with an emphasis on attentive listening across a large orchestra. That seasonal character distinguishes it from Lucerne's other musical institutions. It also explains why a performance by the festival orchestra is tied so closely to the event's identity: the players come together around a particular program and period of work. The orchestra's changing lineup and repertoire make each festival programme a distinct encounter. Check the current festival schedule to see when it performs and what it will play.