Piano festival «Le piano symphonique»

The classic Steinway has a total of 88 keys, both white and black; some instruments even have 97. They can be used to create infinite worlds of sound – as long as you hit the right keys. «The difficult thing about the piano is that every right note is between two wrong ones,» once said Artur Schnabel, who incidentally made his only appearance at the Lucerne International Music Festival in 1948. However, the piano is the navel of the world of music. And not only for the glorified keyboard wizards and virtuoso keyboard lions. Symphonies are written on the piano, even hour-long operas and pious masses. Or chamber music. Nothing works without the piano. Perhaps it was this insight that inspired Schubert to write his beautiful song «To My Piano», which concludes with the unforgettable verses: «Gentle piano, / What raptures you create for me, / Golden piano! / When in life / Worries hover around me, / Tone for me, / Sweet piano!»

The piano has always had a special place in the programs of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra. And with it the world’s most important pianists. Their ingenious playing and the mysterious fascination of the keys, is directly transferred to the orchestra: “le piano symphonique”. After Camille Saint-Saëns and Johannes Brahms in 2021 and 2022, our piano festival will now focus on Robert Schumann, among others, interpreted by absolute world stars such as Martha Argerich, Rudolf Buchbinder and Khatia Buniatishvili.

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to experience world-renowned artists up close – in the atmospheric rooms of the KKL Luzern, the Orchesterhaus in Kriens and the Neubad Luzern. Be there!