Website: http://www.lucernefestival.ch/

Date: March 24 to April 1, 2012
Country: Switzerland

The prestigious Lucerne Festival had first begun in 1938 in the gardens facing Richard Wagner’s villa in Tribschen. Its first season had featured the legendary Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini conducting an élite orchestra specially assembled for the occasion. Located at the picturesque and historic Old Town of Lucerne, the festival holds three signature events every year- Lucerne Festival at the Piano, at Easter and in Summer. Showcasing a diverse genre of programmes performed by a series of world famous artists, the festival’s irreplaceable reputation is universally heralded. Great names such as Claudio Abbado, Heinz Holliger, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Simon Rattle, Valery Gergiev, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra etc have been frequent guests under Lucerne’s spotlight.

In the 2012 edition, Nikolaus Harnoncourt will lead the Concentus Musicus Wien to perform Handel’s pieces. András Schiff will appear as conductor to collaborate with the Cappella Andrea Barca and an outstanding lineup of soloists. Bernard Haitink will also conduct on Bruckner’s Symphony No.4.