Make American History Great Again? Endangered Dreams is the title that the African American composer Jalalu-Kalvert Nelson, who lives in Biel, has given his new ensemble piece. He says he is responding to “the present situation in America, where there is a battle of American identity and history taking place right now. There are factions in America who want to re-write American history and to delete the unpleasant parts of that history — and to sanitize the American Dream of its blemishes. Which means essentially to turn this dream into a one-sided lie.” Just how multifaceted America sounds becomes clear in the rest of the program: Steve Reich, one of the pioneers of Minimalism, fuses two marimbas and two vibraphones into an ecstatically pulsing rhythm machine in his Mallet Quartet. Elliott Carter’s music, by contrast, is deeply rooted in both American and European modernism. His energetic Asko Concerto draws on the Baroque concerto grosso tradition, setting full-ensemble passages against duos, trios, and solos. Augusta Read Thomas wrote Abracadabra (Suncatchers) expressly “for 11 virtuosi”: sparkling, colorful music that keeps pulling new ideas out of the hat. And Dr. Doreen Ketchens, a renowned clarinetist from New Orleans, channels the American Dream by transforming the music of the city’s streets into a form where the ear learns to “free itself.”
Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern
Europaplatz 1
CH-6005 Luzern
Arrival | Parking Facilities
The KKL Luzern is located right next to Lucerne railway station. On account of the traffic and parking situation, it is recommended during Festival season that visitors use public transportation.
Arriving by train & bus
Take advantage of a 50% discount on public transport to Lucerne. You can find more Information here: to the SBB offer.
Arriving by Auto
Lucerne has a dynamic system to indicate parking availability that makes parking in the city easier for you. You can find a list of all parking garages in the City of Lucerne here: see List.
P+Rail
Various train stations outside the City of Lucerne have a Park & Ride offer for those traveling by train to Lucerne. The following train stations, which have abundant parking spaces, are especially handy: Sursee, Rotkreuz, Zug, Wolhusen, Arth-Goldau, and Sarnen.
Flying to Switzerland
Reserve your flight directly with SWISS , the Official Airline of Lucerne Festival.
Concierge Service for Your Travel Planning
Do you prefer to have your trip planned, with an emphasis on the “extra” in service? Then the travel experts at Bucher Reisen are readily available to help you.
Cloakroom
There are coat checkrooms not only in the basement, but also on the 2nd and 4th floors. Handbags up to a size of 42 x 29.7 x 29.7 cm (A3) may be taken into the concert hall. All larger bags and luggage as well as other bulky items must be checked for a fee of CHF 5.00 per item. For security reasons, coats and jackets may also not be taken into the concert hall and can be left at the checkroom free of charge.
Wheelchair seating
Wheelchair spaces with a good view of the stage are available at special rates in Lucerne Hall at the KKL Luzern. We cannot guarantee that the person who is accompanying will be assigned a seat in the same price category and directly next to the wheelchair seat. Level entrances provide direct access to the foyer and to Lucerne Hall at the KKL Luzern. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are located by the checkrooms in the basement, which can be reached by elevator.
To reserve wheelchair spaces please call our ticket sales office directly at +41 (0)41 226 4480. Wheelchair spaces are always made available as soon as online ticket sales begin but can only be reserved by telephone.
Access to venues | Late admission
Doors open 30 minutes before the concert begins for events in Lucerne Hall at the KKL Luzern. Out of consideration for the musicians and the audience, late visitors will be admitted only during intermission or at the discretion of the hall staff. For some concerts, there may be no late admission and no intermission. If a concert is missed due to late arrival, the ticket cannot be refunded.
Gastronomy
In the KKL Luzern
In the mood for a cocktail at the Seebar? Coffee and fine pastries at the Le Piaf? Or would you prefer a multi-course menu in the Gault MiIlau-rated restaurant Lucide? The culinary possibilities in the KKL Luzern are many and varied. Before the concert begins, you can reserve your drinks and snacks for intermission at the KKL information desk in the main lobby of the KKL Luzern. Overview of the restaurants
In Lucerne
Within walking distance of all event venues you can find a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and cafés. The Lucerne Tourism office will gladly assist you in making your selection. Overview of Lucerne Tourism