Violinist Sebastian Bohren Launches New Festival in Switzerland

The inaugural Brugg Festival will take place from September 2–9, 2023

Swiss violinist Sebastian Bohren’s new Brugg Festival is designed to complement the city's Stretta Concerts series, which routinely hosts artists such as violinists Daniel Hope and Emmanuel Tjeknavorian.  

To be held in the Swiss town of Brugg from September 2–9, 2023, the festival will feature a range of players, including Andreas Haefliger, Julia Hagen, Maximilian Hornung, Reto Bieri, Dmitry Smirnov, Sarah Christian, Valentine Michaud, the Stradivari Quartet, and the Georgian Chamber Orchestra.

Over the course of the week, the festival will put on thirteen different concerts. Five of these are "midday interludes," all of which are 55 minutes long and are designed to slot into a lunch break.

According to Bohren, the first edition of the festival has a strong emphasis on well-known works, so as to appeal to a wide audience. However, the programs also contain contemporary music, as well as pieces by Swiss composers.

Brugg is ideally located for a festival of this kind, with strong transport connections from Germany and from other parts of Switzerland. Additionally, the town also has a variety of concert venues to choose from.

The festival will also have a strong pedagogical component, with 450 students from primary and secondary schools taking part in its educational projects.

"My vision for Brugg is a sound festival that attracts music connoisseurs as well as newcomers to classical music in inspiring concert venues," Bohren said. "Everyone should be able to find two or three concerts that suit them at the Brugg Festival."

You can learn more about the festival here.