Lucerne and Stresa, ‘Lakes in Festival’
At the Verona Arena, opera becomes an immersive, three-dimensional experience
Summer by the lake: Lucerne and Stresa, two events with a long-standing tradition. The first brings together major international symphony orchestras, from the Berlin Philharmonic to American ensembles – twenty orchestras over the course of a month-long festival. The second features concerts set against the backdrop of some of Lake Maggiore’s most beautiful locations, starting with the three Borromean Islands – Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori – which stand out directly opposite Stresa, and the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso in Leggiuno. The islands, the lake, the historic gardens and the festival venues are not merely venues for performances, but an integral part of the artistic experience: natural backdrops.
Lucerne
The opening concert of the 2026 Lucerne Festival, on 14 August, will feature the Lucerne Festival Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Chailly, performing works by Gershwin and Ives, in keeping with the ‘American Dreams’ theme. The festival runs until 13 September, with over 120 events. Among the twenty symphony orchestras invited are the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Wiener Philharmoniker, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic, the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Conductors include, amongst others, Kirill Petrenko, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Daniel Barenboim, Manfred Honeck, Iván Fischer, Simon Rattle and Semyon Bychkov. Soloists include Martha Argerich, Cecilia Bartoli, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Yuja Wang and Yo-Yo Ma. Among the main new features are a number of formats designed to enhance the audience experience. ‘Overture’ opens the Festival on the 13th with free concerts at the KKL and in the open air; ‘Mittendrin’ allows audience members to sit amongst the musicians of the Budapest Festival Orchestra during the performance; ‘In the Streets: City Stage’ brings concerts and performances to urban spaces. Alongside a performance by the techno marching band Meute, the Festival is also strengthening its initiatives for young people with “Look Listen Enjoy”, offering tickets for 10 francs for children and teenagers; and with the Fan Zone, a format that allows visitors to experience the Lucerne Festival Orchestra’s concerts up close.
Stresa
The second part of the 65th Stresa Festival opens on 19 August, featuring the Kammerorchester Basel conducted by Bar Avni, with Fazıl Say on piano; the Festival concludes on 6 September. There are 25 events, ranging from early music to classical and contemporary works. Among the featured performers are the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, the Prague Philharmonia, the Belcea Quartet, Il Pomo d’Oro and Ensemble Sjaella, as well as leading soloists such as Ilya Gringolts, Francesco Corti, Mario Brunello, Giovanni Sollima, Francesco Tristano and Lukas Geniušas. The concerts take place in some of Lake Maggiore’s most picturesque venues, from the Borromean Islands to the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso.
