VISION AND TRADITION
As we celebrate the ninth edition of our festival, we are proud to say that the Swiss Alps Classics has firmly established itself on the calendar of international music lovers.
The Swiss Alps Classics stands for extraordinary venues nestled in the mystical surroundings of the St. Gotthard region, as well as for its close, personal atmosphere between world-class artists and audiences. Over the years, we have had the honor of welcoming renowned pianists such as LANG LANG, IgorLEVIT, and Katia & Marielle LABÈQUE; celebrated opera stars like OlgaPERETYATKO, MarisolMONTALVO, and HerbertLIPPERT; violin virtuosos including MaximBRILINSKY, ZiyuHE, BenjaminSCHMID, and EmmanuelTJEKNAVORIAN – who also appeared as a conductor in 2019 and 2021 – and the internationally acclaimed composer and clarinetist JörgWIDMANN. Acclaimed ensembles such as the PHILHARMONIA SCHRAMMELN WIEN, TRIOLOGY, and the JANOSKA ENSEMBLE, along with members of the VIENNA PHILHARMONIC, have graced our festival. We’ve also welcomed celebrated personalities like actress IsabelKARAJAN, Swiss-born Dieter FLURY – long-time solo flutist and former CEO of the Vienna Philharmonic – and the artistic family duos Elena BASHKIROVA-BARENBOIM & MichaelBARENBOIMas well as Hans & Martin HASELBÖCK.
Among our unique venues have been the Nätschen middle station, the Crystal Hall at Sasso San Gottardo, and the Benedictine Monastery of Disentis. In 2022, we performed for the first time at the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, with its breathtaking views of Lake Lucerne. In the equally picturesque setting of the Park Hotel Vitznau, located directly on the lake, we continued our longstanding partnership with the POK Pühringer Private Foundation and the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. The Hotel The Chedi Andermatt and the Andermatt Concert Hall have also been regular hosts of our concerts.
The 2023 festival brought two major premieres: For the first time, the LUCERNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, founded in 1805, performed at the Andermatt Concert Hall under the baton of its chief conductor MichaelSANDERLING, with Sebastian BOHRENshining as soloist in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. We also premiered at the newly opened Chamber Music Hall at Kultur Kulinarik Vitznau, inaugurated in February 2023. There, we not only continued our collaborations with the POK Pühringer Private Foundation and the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, but also fulfilled our mission to showcase the cultural and touristic uniqueness of the region far beyond Central Switzerland.
At the 2024 edition of the festival, we were thrilled to welcome Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg HEMSINGalongside the string ensemble of the LUCERNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and Norwegian pianist HåvardGIMSEat the Andermatt Concert Hall. On the following day, the LUCERNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA returned under the direction of EmmanuelTJEKNAVORIAN, this time as conductor, with cellist AnastasiaKOBEKINAas soloist.
This year, the 9th Swiss Alps Classics will take place from July 4 to 6, 2025, featuring one of the world’s most prestigious orchestras: the FILARMONICA DELLA SCALA, performing on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in the Andermatt Concert Hall. The concert will be lead by violinist JulianRACHLIN.
On Saturday, July 5, 2025, we will present two Rising Stars of the LANG LANG International Music Foundation: Aidan Siqi ZHAO and Deva Mira SPERANDIO will perform a piano recital at the Andermatt Concert Hall.
These concerts are held in cooperation with Andermatt Music.