Evviva Michael!

After 26 years as Executive and Artistic Director, Michael Haefliger bids farewell to Lucerne Festival.

His tenure has been a true era: is there anything he hasn’t achieved! He founded the Lucerne Festival Orchestra with Claudio Abbado and the Lucerne Festival Academy with Pierre Boulez. He discovered such current international stars as Sol Gabetta and Patricia Kopatchinskaja, entrusted Igor Levit with a piano festival of his own, and gave the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra an important role that also made a political statement.

All of these soloists and ensembles were present at Michael Haefliger's farewell party "Les Adieux" on 14 September to thank him musically.

For Michael Haefliger, new forms of presentation and world premieres have also been an integral part of the programming – and so these had to be part of his farewell. Stefan Dohr performed the world premiere of Jüri Reinvere’s new work for solo horn, and “artiste étoile” Winnie Huang presented a new performance with video. Speeches rounded off this three-hour concert marathon.

After that came a big party to which everyone was invited, performers and audience alike.
And of course it was open-ended!