LOS! - Swiss Chamber Music Festival 2027

LOS! In Bernese Swiss German, this means "Listen!" In standard German, it means "Let's go!" Two meanings that couldn't fit the 2027 edition of the Swiss Chamber Music Festival any better. The motto is inspired by a song by the Bernese band Patent Ochsner, which invites us to listen, even to the silence between two people. Listening to music, to each other, to the world around us. For me, taking over the artistic direction of the festival for the first time, listening is also where it all begins. I want to listen to the people of Adelboden and Frutigen, to the young musicians and their ideas, and to what makes this region special. At the same time, LOS! is a call to get moving, to try new things and to start a new chapter with curiosity and enthusiasm. 

Since 2011, the Swiss Chamber Music Festival has been closely connected to the ORPHEUS Swiss Chamber Music Competition. Its prize-winning ensembles, selected from Swiss music academies, form the heart of our festival. They bring fresh interpretations, exciting programmes and new compositions to the Bernese Oberland. Rather than simply inviting these young musicians to perform, I want to develop programmes together with them, listen to their ideas and give them room to experiment, exchange and grow. In 2027, we want to explore what it really means to listen. Sound installations, concerts in which the musicians might remain invisible, or performances in complete darkness could invite audiences to experience music differently. What happens when we cannot see who is playing? When we focus entirely on sound? When silence becomes as important as the notes? But listening also means connecting. We want to bring musicians, audiences and local communities closer together. We are planning a festival choir that will invite local residents and festival visitors to sing and perform alongside our musicians. Sound workshops for children, collaborations with local schools and associations, and informal encounters throughout the festival will create opportunities not only to listen, but also to participate. 

The Swiss Chamber Music Festival has always enjoyed bringing music to unexpected places, from mountain landscapes to industrial halls and village squares. We want to continue this spirit of discovery while strengthening the sense of community around the festival. I want young musicians to meet, exchange ideas and learn from one another, and audiences to feel welcome, whether they are passionate chamber music lovers or hearing this music for the first time. LOS! is an invitation to open our ears, discover something new and experience what happens when we really listen to one another. And of course, it's also time to get started!