Estival Jazz: Music conquers the square

CIn what words would you summarize the cultural value and contents of the 2025 edition of Estival Jazz?

«I like to remember what the great Dizzy Gillespie said many years ago on the stage of Estival: “In Lugano you are really good, here culture is a celebration!”. Well, I think it will be like this again this year, because Estival is a festival that still believes in the power of live music as a collective and cultural experience».

What are the most important new features regarding the guests expected this year?

«The 2025 edition will be a bridge between memory and future: we will pay homage to the 45 editions of Estival by proposing some very welcome returns, but at the same time we will look forward, giving space to new voices and contaminations.
It will certainly be a high quality Estival and it has a great appeal and many world-famous artists will take turns on stage, almost all of them multi-award winning and Grammy winners.
Even though we are living in a time of fragmentation, I am convinced that Estival will be able to rekindle in everyone the desire to meet together, in the Piazza, under the stars and without filters, for three evenings of great music and great emotions. I would also like to point out that there is something new regarding access to the Piazza. For the first time it will be possible to purchase numbered seats in front of the stage, although as always it will be maintained totally free and open access to the square. It will therefore be possible to listen to the concerts more comfortably and at the same time support the efforts of the City of Lugano which has decided to continue to give life to its and our Estival, despite the objective financial difficulties".

What are the distinctive elements that distinguish the formula and, ultimately, the success of this event compared to other jazz festivals held in Switzerland during the summer months?

«The reasons for Estival's success should be asked to the public. They are certainly many: accessibility to a large audience, the spectacular "location" in the center of Lugano a stone's throw from the lake, the high-level programming, the solid organization. Personally I think that one of the reasons is also the authenticity of Estival, I believe that the public loves its popular soul that creates a strong emotional bond with the local population and that also attracts tourists and enthusiasts".

A characterizing element of Estival jazz is therefore the relationship that is established every year with the public that attends the shows. Is it a question of musical competence, passion or the free nature of the concerts?

«Yes, Estival has a soul, a sort of artisanal passion that the public has always recognized in it. Estival creates in Piazza della Riforma (which is the splendid living room of Lugano) a unique and unrepeatable atmosphere, alive and shared, I would say magical, that is envied by everyone and that cannot be found anywhere else, as the guest artists have often confirmed to me.

And so it is today that the baton has passed to the City of Lugano, which I will never stop thanking for saving Estival. Of course, many things have changed: the responsibilities, the historical context, the dynamics, the financial constraints. But I can safely say that the spirit has remained intact, that is, the common will to make Estival a shared heritage. In everyone, from Roberto Badaracco to Claudio Chapparino, from Filippo Corbella to Luca Spinosa, to all the other members of the staff, I have found passion, competence and above all the strong will to keep Estival's identity alive, even under new management. Estival is a team effort, where experience intertwines with new visions and this can only do good for the future of the event".

Your name is inextricably linked to the history and growth of Estival Jazz. What professional and human assessment do you feel like drawing of this extraordinary experience?

«Estival is like a son to me. In half a century (my first concert dates back to 1973 while we created Estival in 1979) Estival has given me a life made of encounters, emotions, bonds and friendships that go far beyond music

When Andreas Wyden and I imagined a festival in the heart of the city of Lugano, outdoors, free, many thought it was a slightly crazy dream. And instead that dream became reality and since then Estival has been an unmissable event in the Ticino summer. Who would have ever said it then?

Estival has been for me a great journey that has made me grow, enriched me, allowed me to cross different worlds and cultures, without having to take a plane. Every edition, every night has been a different journey, from New York to Brazil, from Senegal to Cuba, from Tokyo to the Mediterranean. This is the magic of Estival, an event that brings the world to your home and takes you far away into the world. It was like this for me, but I think it was like this for many passionate spectators who have always followed us with great affection.

And I hope it will also be for the younger ones who will perhaps discover us for the first time this year, perhaps dancing with Youssou N' Dour or Candy Dulfer or letting themselves be enchanted by the voices of Take 6 or the Cuban rhythm of Gonzalo Rubalcaba.

We are waiting for you in the square. It will be a party and I assure you that we will have fun. Happy Estival to everyone!

A great celebration for the audience and the musicians

We asked Gabriele Corte, General Manager of Ceresio Investors, who has supported Estival Jazz since 2022, to explain the reasons for the success of this unique event in the panorama of summer festivals.

This year too you will be sponsors of Estival Jazz. What are the reasons for this choice and how does it fit into the communication strategy of Ceresio Investors?

"We have chosen with conviction to support Estival Jazz again this year because we believe in the value of culture as a driver of cohesion and growth for the territory. It is a festival that knows how to speak to everyone, in an authentic and inclusive way, bringing quality music to the heart of the city. Since 2022, we have had the privilege of being part of this project that represents a unique opportunity to bring music closer to a broad and transversal audience. For us, communicating does not mean promoting a brand, but building relationships and actively contributing to the cultural and social development of the context in which we operate and Estival Jazz is a beautiful and concrete example of this approach".

As a spectator and observer of Ticino society and customs, why do you think summer jazz festivals continue to be so successful?

"I think that the lasting success of these festivals lies precisely in their ability to create experiences and generate emotions. In an era in which everything is increasingly fast and often individual, these events offer a special opportunity to slow down and experience the city in a different way, coming together as a community. In Ticino, then, the link between territory, music and identity is very strong. Events like Estival Jazz manage to enhance urban spaces and transform them into places of participation and dialogue and music adapts perfectly to this spirit, uniting generations, cultures and styles".

Estival Jazz: Three Days of Great Music