Lucerne Festival Orchestra

History

The Lucerne Festival Orchestra is an ad hoc seasonal orchestra, based at the annual Lucerne Festival in Switzerland. The most recent incarnation of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra occurred at the instigation of the late Claudio Abbado (1933–2014), after a 2000 conversation with Lucerne Festival artistic director Michael Haefliger. The core of the ensemble is the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. The LFO features some soloists and orchestral principals from major orchestras in its ranks, including Kolja Blacher, Wolfram Christ, Mirijam Contzen, Diemut Poppen, Natalia Gutman, Jens-Peter Maintz, Jacques Zoon, Reinhold Friedrich, Stefan Dohr, Alessio Allegrini, Mark Templeton, Franz Bartolomey, Alois Posch, Emmanuel Pahud, Albrecht Mayer, Stefan Schweigert, members of the Sabine Meyer Wind Ensemble, the Alban Berg Quartet and Hagen Quartet. The orchestra also includes members of ensembles with whom Abbado had a connection, such as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Movies

Mozart Requiem - Claudio Abbado & Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Mozart Requiem - Claudio Abbado & Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Self - Orchestra
Mozart did not write the Requiem as despairing funeral music for his impending death. Rather, the piece proclaims eternal light and redemption. Together with a first-class quartet of soloists, the choirs of the Bavarian and Swedish radios and the distinguished musicians of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Claudio Abbado uncovers this more hopeful and forgiving essence of the Requiem
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado
Mozart did not write the Requiem as despairing funeral music for his impending death. Rather, the piece proclaims eternal light and redemption. Together with a first-class quartet of soloists, the choirs of the Bavarian and Swedish radios and the distinguished musicians of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Claudio Abbado uncovers this more hopeful and forgiving essence of the Requiem.
Mahler: Symphonies 1-7
Mahler: Symphonies 1-7
Self - Orchestra
The unforgettable performances by Claudio Abbado and the LUCERNE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA of Mahler’s Symphonies Nos. 1−7 are newly celebrated in a set which showcases their exceptional quality – both audiovisual and musical. Claudio Abbado has set new standards in the interpretation of Gustav Mahler’s works; he and his exclusive ensemble of hand-picked musicians held audiences spellbound in these concerts. REPERTOIRE: Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 1-7; Five lieder based on poems by Friedrich Rückert; Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
Lucerne Festival 2009 - Abbado conducts Mahler No. 4 Rückert Lieder
Lucerne Festival 2009 - Abbado conducts Mahler No. 4 Rückert Lieder
Self - Orchestra
The charismatic and inspiring Claudio Abbado and the magnificent mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, hold the audience spellbound in this live recording from Lucerne Festival in Summer. Mahler’s five Rückert-Lieder – in a profoundly moving and rapturously received performance – precede Mahler’s sublime and deeply personal Fourth Symphony. This extraordinary work is executed with power, passion and sensitivity, with Magdalena Kožená giving a transcendent rendition of the final movement.
Lucerne Festival: Mahler: Symphony No. 1; Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3
Lucerne Festival: Mahler: Symphony No. 1; Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3
Self - Orchestra
The charismatic and inspiring Claudio Abbado and the mesmerising young pianist Yuja Wang, with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, hold the audience spellbound in this opening concert of the 2009 Lucerne Festival. Prokofiev's popular and vibrant Third Piano Concerto demonstrates the composer's sharp musical wit, and Yuja Wang is a brilliant exponent of the work. Following this, and chiming beautifully with the festival's theme of the relationship between art and nature, Mahler's First Symphony is given an illuminating and rapturously received performance.
Lucerne 2007: Abbado conducts Mahler 3rd Symphony
Lucerne 2007: Abbado conducts Mahler 3rd Symphony
Self - Orchestra
For this performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 3, recorded live in 2007 at the Congress and Concert Hall Lucerne, Claudio Abbado and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra are joined by the Arnold Schoenberg Chor and the Tölzer Knabenchor. The soloist is Anna Larsson.
A Russian Night
A Russian Night
Self - Orchestra
RACHMANINOV: Klavierkonzert Piano Concerto No. 2 - STRAVINSKY: Der Feuervogel · The Firebird - TCHAIKOVSKY: Der Sturm · The Tempest - Hélène Grimaud - Lucerne Festival Orchestra - Claudio Abbado
Lucerne Festival: Mahler: Symphony No. 2
Lucerne Festival: Mahler: Symphony No. 2
Self - Orchestra
Claudio Abbado has realised a dream with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. The orchestra, an exclusive ensemble of handpicked musicial stars, opens up new dimensions in the interpretation of symphonic music with exceptional soloists. The line-up includes such luminaries as Ilya Gringolts and Sabine and Wolfgang Meyer, alongside members of the world's great orchestras. The cellos section alone boasts Natalia Gutman, Clemens Hagen and Valentin Erben. Claudio Abbado is undeniably a supreme Mahler conductor and his best selling recordings with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra symphonies No. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 have already been released on EuroArts the symphonies have set new standards in interpretation of works by Gustav Mahler.
Lucerne Festival: Mahler: Symphony No. 6
Lucerne Festival: Mahler: Symphony No. 6
Self - Orchestra
Live performance of Gustav Mahler's 'Symphony No.6' at the 2006 Lucerne Festival. Claudio Abbado conducts the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, which includes soloists such as violinist Kolja Blacher, cellist Natalia Gutman and clarinettist Sabine Meyer.
Lucerne Festival: Mahler: Symphony No. 7
Lucerne Festival: Mahler: Symphony No. 7
Self - Orchestra
Claudio Abbado conducts the Lucerne Festival Orchestra in this performance of Mahler's seventh symphony recorded in 2005.