The Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana enters the new academic and school year with the enthusiasm of those who celebrate forty years of activity and at the same time look to the future with an intense and diversified program. Between symphonic concerts, reviews dedicated to contemporary music and initiatives involving the youngest students, the CSI reaffirms its position as a key institution for musical education and cultural life in the area.
The 2025/2026 calendar includes over two hundred productions, ranging from chamber music recitals to major orchestral events, with the dual goal of training musicians and offering the community a quality cultural experience. The Conservatory, based in Lugano, thus confirms its position not just as a school, but as a true creative laboratory capable of intertwining education, research, and performance.
Very Parisienne: The Anniversary Concert
Among the most anticipated events is "Very Parisienne!", the concert scheduled for October 27th at the Sala Teatro of the LAC in Lugano, which will close the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana. Ensemble900, expanded for the occasion to 90 members and directed by Francesco Bossaglia, will offer a musical journey through Europe and America, with a repertoire that combines symphonic masterpieces and film scores.
The programme includes the Overture from Candid by Leonard Bernstein, the first ever performance of The myriad of colors by composer Paul Glass, music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold for The Sea Hawk, the suite from Vertigo by Bernard Herrmann and, in closing, An American in Paris by George Gershwin. This last piece, which gives the evening its title, symbolizes the curious gaze of a traveler immersed in the vitality of early twentieth-century Paris.
The concert will be repeated on October 28th at the Teatro Zandonai in Rovereto and on October 29th at the Auditorium in Milan, in collaboration with BPS (Suisse), which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary.
A season that combines tradition and innovation
The Conservatory of Italian Switzerland's program isn't limited to celebratory events. The 900presente season, now in its XNUMXth year, will feature other notable productions, such as Artisanat furieux, with music by Schoenberg and Boulez. In parallel, the review Electro Acoustic Room will celebrate its tenth anniversary with a renewed format that combines concert and guided listening, in an exploration of acousmatic music.
The collaboration with the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana will continue with shared concerts: on October 2nd, for example, the CSI Symphony Orchestra will participate in the opening of the OSI season at the LAC, alongside conductor Krzysztof Urbański and cellist Sol Gabetta.
Young voices and new locations
The Conservatory's educational commitment is also reflected in the projects of the School of Music and Pre-College, which involve over a thousand students. Among the most significant events are: Let's orchestrate ourselves (8 December 2025), which will bring around two hundred young musicians to the LAC stage, and the traditional Gala Concert (29 January 2026, with a repeat performance on 8 February).
The Clairière Choir, founded 25 years ago under the direction of Brunella Clerici, will celebrate its anniversary with a large musical gathering on October 19th in the Hall of the LAC, a prelude to an international project with the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, planned for the following summer.
The CSI is also looking to expand locally: in 2026, it will open a new office in Bellinzona, strengthening its presence beyond Lugano and increasing the accessibility of musical education.
Culture as a common good
Participating in the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana's events means supporting an organization that goes beyond simply training music professionals, but actively contributes to the cultural life of Italian-speaking Switzerland. From recitals open to the public in the LAC halls to initiatives like "Negozi in musica," which bring music to the streets of Lugano, each project demonstrates an inclusive and dynamic vision.
