The symphonic season of the LAC Lugano Art and Culture is enriched with a new prestigious event thanks to the arrival of the Swiss Orchestra, a group that in recent years has established itself as one of the most dynamic ensembles on the Swiss musical scene. On Thursday, May 7, at 8:00 pm, the ensemble conducted by Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer will take the stage of the Sala Teatro alongside pianist Olga Scheps for a program that brings together some of the most significant works of Classicism and early Romanticism.
The evening's focus will be a comparison between two figures from the same cultural horizon but with different presences in the repertoire today: Ludwig van Beethoven, an undisputed protagonist in the history of Western music, and Édouard Du Puy, a composer of Neuchâtel origins whose work deserves renewed attention. The juxtaposition of the two composers offers an interesting perspective on the transition from the formal composure of the eighteenth century to the expressive tension that would characterize the following century.
The opening is entrusted to the Overture from the opera Ungdom og Galskap by Du Puy, a piece rarely performed in concert halls. The brilliant and theatrical writing is distinguished by its rhythmic vivacity, rich contrasts, and refined attention to orchestral color. This music testifies to the creative ferment of a transitional era, situated between late-classical elegance and the first push toward greater expressive freedom.
The heart of the program is Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37, one of the works that most clearly marks the emancipation of Beethoven's concerto language from eighteenth-century models. Here, the relationship between piano and orchestra transforms into a close dialogue, rich in dramatic tension and lyrical impulses. In this context, the presence of Olga Scheps promises to be particularly significant: the German pianist is internationally acclaimed for her interpretative depth, her attention to sound, and her ability to combine stylistic rigor and emotional intensity.
A guest artist at festivals and prestigious concert halls throughout Europe and beyond, Scheps has built a career characterized by a broad repertoire and a constant attention to the quality of his phrasing. His interpretations, both in the Romantic and Classical repertoire, are distinguished by their balance, elegance, and communicative power.
The evening will conclude with Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, one of the most celebrated and recognizable compositions in the entire symphonic literature. The celebrated opening line, which has become part of the collective imagination, introduces a musical journey that develops with extraordinary coherence the themes of conflict, transformation, and the final arrival at the light. This sonic journey continues to represent one of the highest syntheses of Beethoven's thought.
Founded with the aim of promoting Switzerland's 19th- and 20th-century musical heritage, the Swiss Orchestra has distinguished itself through an artistic project that combines research, dissemination, and quality performance. The ensemble brings together performers from the new generation and places particular emphasis on rediscovering lesser-known composers, restoring visibility to works often overlooked by traditional programming.
Under the leadership of Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer, a conductor known for her rigorous yet communicative approach, the orchestra has consolidated its own identity, combining philological precision, interpretive energy, and openness to new listening experiences. Its work is also part of a broader cultural mission: promoting dialogue between Switzerland's different linguistic regions through the universal language of music.
The Lugano event thus presents an opportunity to listen to a program of great historical and expressive coherence, in which rediscovery intertwines with the great repertoire. An evening that highlights not only the vitality of the Swiss Orchestra, but also the LAC's ability to propose artistic projects of international scope.
Before the concert, at 7:00 PM in the LAC Hall, journalist and popularizer Enrico Parola will introduce the program, offering the audience tools and insights into the evening's musical journey. Attendance is recommended. Book on the official LAC website.
