This year Geneva’s music festival turns 25. Every year the event is reinvented, and 2016 is no exception. It runs from Friday 17 June to Sunday 19 June 2016.
The festival has five elements: classical music; contemporary music; interactive family fun; dance; cinema. The CHF 1.5 million festival lasts three days (17, 18, 19 June 2016), involves 5,400 musicians, 30 stages (18 outside and 12 inside) and is spread over 47 hectares.
The festivities take place on the left and right banks of the city as well as in communes beyond the city.
Sami Kanaan will open the event at 19:30 on Friday 17 June 2016 at Geneva’s Place de Neuve. The opening will be followed by a performance of traditional songs from Ticino, Switzerland’s Italian-speaking region, by Geneva’s Coriandolo Choir.
Classical music
368 classical musicians will perform at four locations around the city.
Head to stage at The Reformation Wall to see:
L’Orchestre des Trois-Chêne au vert – Friday 17 June at 19h
L’Orchestre romand des jeunes professionnels (ORJP) – Saturday 18 June at 14h
Head to the Temple de la Madeleine to see:
Ensemble Chiome d’Oro – Saturday 18 June at 20h40
Head to the Victoria Hall to see:
L’Orchestre d’Harmonie de l’Etat de Genève – Sunday 19 June at 15h
Head to Auditoire de Calvin to see:
Fecimeo – Sunday 19 June at 18h10
Contemporary music
713 contemporary artists will perform. Stars include the talented rapper Eriah and the reggae group Najavibes.
For contemporary music head to:
JONAS « OXYMORE » – The Reformation Wall, Friday 17 June at 20h45
LONG JOHA’ & LA BRIGADE LÉGÈRE – The Reformation Wall, Friday 17 June at 22h15
GYPSY SOUND SYSTEM ORKESTRA – The Reformation Wall, Friday 17 June at 23h45
21.06.2008 Fête de la Musique
Family fun
For family music festivities head to:
Bambin’Opéra Cour de l’Hôtel de Ville – Saturday 18 June at 14h.
Les Petits Renards – Place de Neuve, Saturday 18 June at 14h (Film concert).
Opéra-Théâtre junior, Salle Frank-Martin – Saturday 18 June at 17h30.
Geneva state orchestra, Victoria Hall – Sunday 19 June at 15h (Film concert).
« Les Allumettes » The Zug school orchestra performs at Victoria Hall- Sunday 19 June at 13h.
Interactive activities
For interactive family fun head to:
L’Espace musical, Bastions Rocailles, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 from 13h to 18h.
La Bulle d’Air for children from 1 to 10. Baulacre, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 from 13h to 18h.
Music workshops
Body drumming workshop
A place for all the family. Discover how to use your body as an instrument. U
Family orchestra workshop
Get your troupe playing together on a wide range of instruments.
Tambourine making
Sounds, colours, easy to make. Then it’s time to make music! CHF 10 for the material.
Dance
To see dance head to Parc Beaulieu on the right bank.
The contemporary dance association will present performances on Friday 17 June from 19:00 to 1:00 am, Saturday 18 June from 14:00 to 1:00 am and on Sunday 19 June from 14:00 until 21:00.
Cinema
To see cinema head to Grütli Cinema at 16 rue du Général Dufour. The cinema will be showing films rich with music.
QUADROPHENIA – Saturday 18 June at 14h; Sunday 19 June at 18h45
BOYCHOIR – Saturday 18 June at 14h ; Sunday 19 June at 16h45
NWA : Straight Outta Compton – Saturday 18 June at 22h15 ; Sunday 19 June at 22h15
JOURNEY IN SENSUALITY / Anna Halprin, Auguste Rodin – Sunday 19 June at 21h
WEST SIDE STORY – Sunday 19 June at 14h00
…or to open air cinema at Place de Neuve
JOURNEY IN SENSUALITY / Anna Halprin, Auguste Rodin – Saturday 18 June at 16h
WEST SIDE STORY – Saturday 18 June at 18h
Practical information
Some streets will be closed to cars from 19:00 on 17 June until 23:00 on Sunday 19 June. The streets affected are all of the zone around Place de Neuve, the Promenade Saint-Antoine and Rue Baulacre. There will also be parking restrictions near concert areas.
Special TPG shuttles will run on Friday 17 June 21h-2h and Saturday 18 June 17h-2h.
More on this:
Geneva music festival website (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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