40min Open Air

What do you want to listen to? You can use the jukebox to decide whether to have the young musicians of the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (LFCO) play Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, or another classical hit. But it doesn’t have to be just classical. This Saturday afternoon, you can enjoy the Mathias Landtwing Quartet’s blend of Swiss folk music with jazz manouche, as well as a young, award-winning brass quartet from Manchester that spans styles from Grieg to Dixieland. The 40min series offers a colorful set of options intended to open ears, broaden horizons, and spark curiosity about music through varied programs — all open to the public for free. That’s why we’re offering our third annual edition of the expanded 40min Open Air aimed at everyone: not only Festival fans but also people who happen to walk by and want to check it out. Three shows will be performed on the stage in front of the KKL Luzern — ideally lit up by bright sunshine. The concerts will be complemented by talks with the musicians, giving you a chance to learn more about what you hear and the people who play it.