Seventh festival edition was "a great success" - further cooperation with LSO planned
Andermatt (20.6.2023) - The organizers of the Swiss Alps Classics draw a very positive conclusion of the seventh edition. "The Swiss Alps Classics 2023 was a great success. We had full houses twice and the great honor that the LUZERN SINFONIE ORCHESTRA performed with us for the first time. We are overjoyed," emphasized festival founder PETER-MICHAEL REICHEL. "The LSO started its Asian tour in Andermatt," Reichel said with a twinkle in his eye. "The Beethoven program that principal conductor Michael Sanderling and his orchestra will play in Asia was wonderful and created a great atmosphere in the packed concert hall." Reichel expressed his wish that the cooperation with Switzerland's oldest symphony orchestra be expanded in the future - something he and Intendant NUMA BISCHOF ULLMANN agree on: "As soon as the LSO is back from Asia, we want to sit down and discuss the cooperation for the coming years."
This year there had been a local Swiss focus at the Swiss Alps Classics. Sebastian Bohren, one of Switzerland's best-known violinists, performed as soloist together with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra. He shone in Beethoven's Violin Concerto, which with him in the Swiss Alpine setting became a musical "summit experience." In addition, the festival once again presented a new, exquisite performance venue: the breathtaking golden chamber music hall of Kultur Kulinarik Vitznau. CAREY BYRON and SEBASTIAN PICHT, two 18-year-old highly talented US young pianists of the LANG LANG INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FOUNDATION, thrilled the audience there with works by Frédéric Chopin, Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy, Sergei Rachmaninov, Sergei Prokofiev and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Peter-Michael Reichel said, "I am very pleased that we were able to be guests for the first time in the new chamber music hall at DAS MORGEN. It is one of the most beautiful halls I have ever seen in my life. I believe that this hall, which we owe to the Pühringer family, will be a great success for the Vitznau location."
Canton Uri has stood by the side of Swiss Alps Classics since the beginning of the festival
The festival's organizing committee once again thanks the canton of Uri and its cultural representatives. From the canton there was an enthusiastic feedback: "The Swiss Alps Classic is an enrichment for the cultural calendar of Uri and especially with the performance of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra it offered an extraordinary highlight", said cantonal councillor Beat Jörg, director of education and culture of the canton Uri. For Ralph Aschwanden, the cultural representative of the canton of Uri, this year's edition has also convinced with its diversity: "From gentle Chopin sounds to the grandiose 5th symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven, the Swiss Alps Classic has created extraordinary moments this year. "
Daetwyler Foundation and Otto Gamma Foundation also support the festival
The Daetwyler Foundation is also a member of the Swiss Alps Classics' loyal circle of supporters. Foundation Board President Barbara Merz Wipfli, who is a member of the Festival Advisory Board, said: "Amadeus Event Promotion AG has produced a festival of outstanding artistic quality with Swiss Alps Classics. It contributes to the fact that the enormous tourism development in the Ursern Valley is also accompanied by a development in the cultural offer. The Daetwyler Foundation is pleased to be involved in shaping this development as a sponsoring partner from the very beginning."
Swiss Alps Classics would also like to thank the Otto Gamma Foundation from Zurich for their support.
An Arttv.ch video report about the festival closing with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra can be viewed HERE.