Lucerne Symphony Orchestra shines at the end of the festival with Beethoven program in Andermatt

Andermatt (18.6.2023) - The hall entrance of the "Maestro" for the second half of the concert was imposing. With a swinging stride, chief conductor MICHAEL SANDERLING came through the side door of the Andermatt concert hall onto the stage - and got going without "warning": his flatly outstretched hand jerked forward like a lightning bolt into the center of his LUZERNER SINFONIEORCHESTER: "Ta-ta-ta-taaaaa...!" The powerful opening of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in the intimate concert hall was one of those uplifting moments that will go down in the history of our festival. The debut of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra (LSO) at Swiss Alps Classics, which took place in front of a full house, held some of these very special scenes full of musical delight. Switzerland's oldest symphony orchestra presented its Beethoven program, which it will play on its upcoming trip to Asia, at the festival's crowning finale - and was supported by soloist SEBASTIAN BOHREN, one of Switzerland's best-known violinists.

Sebastian Bohren, 36, raved about the experience in the Andermatt concert hall. He celebrated his debut there - as did Michael Sanderling: "Playing the Beethoven Violin Concerto in Andermatt together with the LSO and Michael Sanderling was a musical 'peak experience' for me. Swiss Alps Classics organized the festival excellently - we musicians felt at home and were able to bring Beethoven's music to fruition in the immediate atmosphere of the beautiful Andermatt concert hall." Bohren, a native of Winterthur, performed the first half of the concert with the LSO - and played a solo as an encore: "Evolène" by Émile de Ribaupierre. He called the piece, which he usually plays when performing abroad, a "greeting to Switzerland.

After the intermission, the LSO then celebrated Beethoven's "Fifth", already described at the beginning, to earn a storm of applause at the end with thunderous foot stomping - Michael Sanderling was asked back on stage three times with great applause and then announced a wonderful encore: "Dear audience, if you look at the date, you will understand why we want to play you exactly this encore: the overture from A Midsummer Night's Dream by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy ..." After this enchanting encore, the guests were released into the balmy summer night amidst the backdrop of the Swiss Alps.

LSO director NUMA BISCHOF ULLMANN and soloist Sebastian Bohren did not miss the opportunity to join the gala dinner at "The Chedi Andermatt" afterwards. Numa Bischof Ullmann said in his greeting: "It is wonderful to be able to play Beethoven in this alpine space." Addressing festival founder Peter-Michael Reichel, with whom he developed the idea for this concert during a joint mountain hike, he said, "Dear Peter-Michael, I find it admirable how you are doing this festival as a private initiative. With your courage and enthusiasm, you deserve all the support of the people who are here." It is conceivable that this cooperation will be expanded in the future, both sides agree.

Soloist Sebastian Bohren raves about The Chedi Andermatt

Sebastian Bohren, who stayed at The Chedi, raved about the five-star deluxe hotel: "The hospitality and hotel experience at 'The Chedi' following the concert was unforgettable: true luxury, celebrated to perfection from the décor to the service."

Tourism director praises successful partnership with festival

Thomas Christen, Andermatt's tourism director, was also among the audience on Saturday evening. Christen praised the successful partnership between the Andermatt vacation region and the Swiss Alps Classics: "From year to year, the festival is a joy for Andermatt, and from year to year it gets better," he said. "I find it especially nice this year that we had the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra as a close partner on stage."