American Sounds Open Lucerne Festival 2026

14 AUG 2026: Riccardo Chailly and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra open the 2026 summer season with Gershwin, Ives, and pianist Frank Dupree.

The Lucerne Festival launches its 2026 summer season with a program celebrating the breadth of American music. Riccardo Chailly and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra pair the vibrant sound world of George Gershwin with the early symphonic voice of Charles Ives.

Gershwin’s Cuban Overture sets a spirited opening, alive with rhythmic drive and Caribbean color. Pianist Frank Dupree then brings his versatility to the Concerto in F major, where Gershwin seamlessly fuses the pulse of jazz with classical structure, culminating in a sparkling, high-energy finale.

After the interval comes a shift in tone with Ives’s Symphony No. 1 in D minor, a work rooted in the late-Romantic tradition yet already hinting at the originality that would define his later music. Its lush orchestral writing and subtle surprises offer a compelling counterpart to Gershwin’s urban flair.

Together, these works form an opening night that blends vitality, virtuosity, and the spirit of discovery – an ideal start to the Festival’s summer season.

Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Frank Dupree, piano

George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Cuban Overture
Piano Concerto in F major

Charles Ives (1874-1954)
Symphony No. 1 in D minor, JS 1

Live on ARTE Concert
August 14, 2026 | 6.30 pm
Concert Hall, KKL Lucerne

A 4K HDR Production of Accentus Music
In Coproduction with Arte GEIE, SRG and SRF
In Cooperation with Mezzo and Lucerne Festival