Zurich Festival

Zurich Festival

June-JulyOriginally called the Zurich May Festival, this international music, dance, and theater festival in Switzerland was founded in 1909 by Alfred Reucker, director at the time of the Zurich Opera House, because the opera season usually ended in April, and singers and actors needed more work. It was patterned after the Bayreuth Festival, with the primary emphasis on opera, but since that time it has expanded to include orchestral and chamber music, vocal and instrumental recitals, ballet, and art exhibits.
Past performers at the festival have included the Royal Shakespeare Company, Tokyo's Red Buddha Theatre, the Netherlands Dance Theatre, Belgium's Ballet of the 20th Century, and the Abafumi Company of Uganda. Exhibits in city museums are set up to coincide with the festival, and there are master classes for young musicians.
CONTACTS:
Zurich Tourism
Bahnhofbrucke 1
Postfach
Zurich, 8023 Switzerland
41-44-215-4000; fax: 41-44-215-4044
www.zurichtourism.ch/en/welcome.cfm
Zurich Festival
c/o Opernhaus Zurich
Matthias v. Bausznern, Falkenstrasse 1
Zurich, 8008 Switzerland
41-44-269-9090; fax: 41-44-260-7025
www.zuercher-festspiele.ch/en
SOURCES:
GdWrldFest-1985, p. 172
IntlThFolk-1979, p. 356
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