Founded in 1938, Lucerne Festival is one of the leading international festivals in the realm of classical music. Each year the most acclaimed symphony orchestras come to Lucerne to perform: these include such ensembles as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam. Along with cultivating the traditional repertoire, contemporary music plays an essential role at Lucerne Festival in terms of programming and education.

The Summer Festival presents some 100 concerts from mid-August until mid- September. The offerings encompass a diverse range of concert formats: symphony concerts, chamber music, recitals, the Debut and Late Nights series, and much more. “Composers-in-residence,” “artistes étoiles,” and such innovative concert formats as the 40min and Young Performance series are a significant aspect of the programming.