New Society to Support American Musicians at Historic European Music Festival In a reception at the Swiss Embassy in Washington D.C. on April 22, Michael Haefliger, the Artistic and Executive Director of Switzerland's historic LUCERNE FESTIVAL, and Jürg Reinshagen, President of the Board, will announce the establishment the American Friends of LUCERNE FESTIVAL in the United States to advance cultural exchange between the U.S and Switzerland, with an emphasis on supporting presentation of American orchestras, artists and composers at the Festival's annual events in Lucerne, Switzerland a priority. The not-for-profit corporation will promote the Festival in the United States at various special events with the goal of creating a broader awareness of this historic and prestigious series of events, which has brought the highest quality music and musicians to Lucerne’s idyllic alpine setting since 1938. In doing so, the society will strive to win even more American friends for the internationally important LUCERNE FESTIVAL. The Festival is pleased to announce that the Chairman of the new organization is is one of the most distinguished managers of cultural events in the U.S.: Klaus Jacobs, Vice Chairman and Treasurer of Carnegie Hall. Visitors to the LUCERNE FESTIVAL have experienced the finest musicmaking for more than sixty years, both in Lucerne’s historic churches and concert halls (including the magnificent new Jean Nouvel-designed Cultural and Conference Center with its daring over-the-water-canopy) as well as explored the pleasures of the city’s scenic attractions: historic bridges, lakeside walks, alpine excursions, and the Richard Wagner Museum where Arturo Toscanini conducted the LUCERNE FESTIVAL’s opening concert in 1938 on the grounds of the villa. The LUCERNE FESTIVAL has for many years offered an especially strong artistic platform in Europe for orchestras, conductors and soloists from the United States. Among the celebrated American orchestras and their leaders to visit are the Cleveland Orchestra (with von Karajan, Maazel, Szell, and Dohnányi) the New York Philharmonic (under Bernstein, Boulez, Mehta and Masur), the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (lead by Steinberg, Jansons and Macal) the Philadelphia Orchestra (Muti and Sawallisch), the Boston Symphony Orchestra (Osawa and Haitink) and many others. At LUCERNE FESTIVAL, SOMMER 2002 (August 14 – September 15) three American orchestras will be guests: James Levine will conduct two programs with the MET Orchestra, while the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Daniel Barenboim (both returnees) will be "orchestras-in-residence", participating in many performances and other activities.