“The fame of Lucerne as a tourist resort is kept up from year to year by a well-known music festival. The town has a remarkable site at the northwest end of Lake Lucerne.”
- Michelin

SIX MAJOR CONCERTS: Vienna Philharmonic (Two programs under Riccardo Muti); Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Two programs under Bernard Haitink); Simon Bolivar Youth Orch. of Venezuela (under Gustavo Dudamel); Cecilia Bartoli Recital.

“Murray Perahia may be the closest thing to a pure conduit of music. . . The soul of a poet, the mind of a thinker, the hands of a virtuoso: No wonder audiences love this guy.”
- Chicago Tribune

The world’s foremost orchestras, conductors and soloists gather each year at Switzerland’s prestigious Lucerne Festival for a final chapter of the summer’s international festival season. The renowned acoustics of the contemporary state-of-the-art Concert Hall attract today’s most sought-after stars. We have been able to secure a limited number of tickets for a leisurely full week (seven nights) at the charming and intimate Hotel des Balances, ideally located in the heart of the old town under the dramatic backdrop of the Swiss Alps. This will enable us to include no less than SIX CONCERTS representing the highlights of the European season for lovers of great orchestras. This year’s extraordinary schedule enables us to enjoy six of today’s leading international orchestras – an embarrassment of riches, and by far the most exciting musical program we have yet encountered at this connoisseur’s Festival.

Our tickets and high-season rooms are at a premium and are expensive, but the quality and ambience of the Lucerne Festival are worthy of its superlative reputation as a connoisseur’s musical event.

First, a pair of concerts by the peerless Vienna Philharmonic will offer two varied programs under the baton of the revered Italian conductor Riccardo Muti, who has chosen works of Rossini, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Nino Rota to display the ensemble’s virtuosity. The second featured orchestra will be the famed Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) under the leadership of the Dutch maestro Bernard Haitink. The CSO programs will include Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 (‘Tragic’) and works of Mozart, Wagner and Shostakovich. We are also eagerly anticipating a performance of Mahler’s full-length Symphony No. 2 (‘Resurrection’) by the remarkable Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, led by the dynamic young Gustavo Dudamel who has recently been named Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Our final performance will be a solo Recital by the Italian coloratura opera star, Cecilia Bartoli, who continues to dazzle audiences with her exuberant personality and artistry.

With music of this quality, it is no wonder that the Lucerne Festival has become a mecca for the artistic and social élite of Europe. Late summer is a perfect time to enjoy the mountainous scenery which surrounds Lake Lucerne. Museums and restaurants are relatively uncrowded in September, and the weather should be particularly pleasant. This Tour is limited to only 16 people due to the difficulty of obtaining tickets for our premium events.

Monday, September 8th, departure from New York’s Kennedy Airport at 6:00 pm on Swiss Airlines flight #17, arriving in Zürich at 8:20 am on the morning of the 9th. Or independent travel to Lucerne. Please note: Our bus transfer will meet our designated flight and take you directly to Lucerne. If you are arriving independently, you will need to take a taxi to Lucerne (an expensive drive of an hour and a quarter) or a train (reasonable).

Accommodations for seven nights with a generous Swiss buffet breakfast included at the Hotel des Balances. This four-star property is located in the historic city-center on the Reuss River with beautiful views of the Old Towne and the Alps. It is also within comfortable walking distance of our performances at the Concert Hall. The exterior façade is famous for its murals in the style of Hans Holbein, and the Rotes Gatter restaurant offers regional Swiss dining. The hotel’s friendly atmosphere and personal service will add immeasurably to our Lucerne experience.

IMPORTANT: Please note that there is a performance on our first evening. While we would be happy to reserve your room for the early night of September 8th, you would have to transfer independently from the Zürich Airport to Lucerne. Our group transfer will be on the 9th.