Those who prognosticate grimly on the future of classical music may want to have a look at what happened at the Lucerne Festival this year.
Held in the Swiss city of Lucerne from Aug. 15 to Sept. 14, 2014, the Lucerne Summer Festival brought in a total of 66,500 concertgoers, according to official statistics released by the festival's press office. Out of 56 concerts, 26 sold out, and another 18 of them reached a capacity of 90 percent or higher.
For most Classical MPR listeners, however, attending the Lucerne Festival represents quite a commitment. That's why we're bringing you highlights from the festival each Tuesday throughout the month of November, thanks to our partnership with our colleagues at WQXR in New York.
This year's Lucerne Summer Festival was dedicated to the memory of Claudio Abbado, the founder and leader of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra who died in January of this year. The Lucerne Summer Festival opened with an all-Brahms program that Abbado himself had designed for the occasion. Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons led this program, and we'll air it on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m., on Classical Minnesota Public Radio.
Here's a rundown of the complete Lucerne Festival schedule on Classical MPR this month; each broadcast is hosted by WQXR's Jeff Spurgeon:
Tuesday, Nov. 4 - LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA (taped Aug. 15, 2014)
Bavarian Radio Choir
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Sara Mingardo, alto
BRAHMS Serenade No. 2 in A major, Op. 16
BRAHMS Alto Rhapsody, with male chorus and orchestra, Op. 53
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73
Tuesday, Nov. 11 - WEST-EASTERN DIVAN ORCHESTRA (taped Aug. 17, 2014)
Daniel Barenboim, conductor
Peter Seiffert, Tristan
Waltraud Meier, Isolde
Ekaterina Gubanova, Brangäne
René Pape, King Marke
Stephan Rügamer, Melot
AYAL ADLER (b. 1968) Resonating Sounds for large orchestra
Kareem ROUSTOM (b. 1971) Ramal for orchestra
RICHARD WAGNER Tristan und Isolde. Concert performance of Act Two
Tuesday, Nov. 18 - ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA AMSTERDAM (taped Sept. 4, 2014)
Mariss Jansons, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
BRAHMS Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn, Op. 56a
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 10
RAVEL Concerto for piano and orchestra in G major
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2
Tuesday, Nov. 25 - VIENNA PHILHARMONIC (taped Sept. 13, 2014)
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Sergey Khachatryan, violin
BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88
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