Highly successful overall figures for the “Summer of Paradise"
Highly successful overall figures for the “Summer of Paradise”: 13,800 more concertgoers than in the summer of 2022
Drawing a total of 84,000 visitors, Lucerne Festival achieved an overall figure of 84% capacity, with 11 of the concerts being sold out; some 15,300 concertgoers enjoyed the free-admission events presented in the open air and in the KKL Luzern.
Lucerne, 8 September 2023. The 2023 Summer Festival, which has focused on the theme of “Paradise,” draws to a close this weekend with highly successful final results. This year, the Festival achieved an overall figure of 84% capacity — an increase of 12% over last year’s figure. The 29 symphony concerts alone achieved an overall figure of 86% capacity. Starting on 8 August, a total of 112 events were presented in venues including the KKL Luzern, the Lukaskirche, the Hochschule Luzern — Musik and various public places in Lucerne throughout the 34 days of the Festival. A total of 11 of the 68 paid-admission events were sold out, including the opening concert and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra’s second concert, as well as the second concerts during the Oslo Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s respective visits. Switzerland’s largest classical music festival recorded a grand total of 84,000 visitors, among whom 15,300 also attended the Festival’s 44 free admission events accompanied by summer temperatures. Included among the latter group were those who enjoyed the “Lakeside Symphony” (an outdoor live broadcast of the opening), the 40min series as well as the newly introduced 40min Open Air event, the world music groups from the “In the Streets” festival, “Cuban Dances in Inseli Park” (on the inaugural day of the Festival), an impromptu performance at the open-air Buvette, and a concert at the Lucerne Children’s Hospital. Three concerts featuring international youth symphony orchestras were additionally on the program.
Lucerne Festival also offered a total of 19 events exclusively for schools, including five concerts at the KKL Luzern, one of which featured the Berliner Philharmoniker Brass Ensemble in the Concert Hall. A total of about 6,300 school students from the Lucerne region were able to attend.
“An increase of 13,800 concertgoers and a 12% increase in total attendance compared to a year ago: this great response from the public shows us that we are offering the right mix of programming,” observes Michael Haefliger, Executive and Artistic Director of Lucerne Festival. “Young and old, residents of Lucerne and tourists, students and executives alike joyfully participated in our free events. We look forward to building on this success in the coming year!”