This year Geneva’s music festival turns 26. Every year the event is reinvented, and 2017 is no exception. It runs from Friday 23 June to Sunday 25 June 2017.
Le News was at the event’s press conference and captured a short clip of two of the musicians forming part of this year’s aural extravaganza.
The festival has five elements: classical music; contemporary music; interactive family fun; dance; cinema. Spread over three days it includes 6,000 musicians, 31 stages (19 outside and 12 inside) and is spread over 48 hectares. 5 kilometres of tinsel is used to adorn the festivities.
There will be 30 hours of music this year, 6 more than 2016. And believe it or not, it’s all free!
2016 Music Festival – © Lucas Olivet
This year sees a new movable stage which will move to three parks on the right bank over the festival. It will be in Parc Mon Repos, rue de Lausanne on Friday, Parc Trembley, rue Pestalozzi 4 on Saturday, and Jardin Botanique, chemin de l’Impératrice 1 on Sunday.
Except for the movable stage on the right bank, the festivities take place on the left bank of the city as well as in seven communes beyond the city. The following map shows the city locations.
In addition to these performances, there will be acts in seven communes. These are: Bernex, Carouge, Confignon, Genthod, Lancy, Plan-les-Ouates and Versoix.
Sami Kanaan, Geneva city’s administrative chief and former mayor, will open the event at 19:30 on Friday 23 June 2017 at Geneva’s Alhambra. The opening will be followed by two performances. One by Big Boxing Piano – 30 pianos and pianists, followed by “Pianistes en scène” – 5 pianists playing together.
The following acts are just a small sample of what is on offer. Full programme.
Classical music
370 classical musicians will perform at four locations around the city.
Vision String Quartet
Head to The Alhambra to see:
Big Boxing Piano – Friday 23 June at 19h
Head to the Cour de la Hotel de Ville to see:
Quinteto Respiro – Friday June at 20h00
Trio SR9 – Saturday 24 June at 20h00
Le Trio Atanassov – Saturday 24 June 21h30
Head to the Place de Neuve and Bastions Réformateurs to see:
Camerata de Léman – Friday 23 June at 20h30
Vision string quartet – Friday 23 June at 22h00
Orchestra Lancy-Genève – Saturday 24 June at 21h00
Contemporary music
678 contemporary artists will perform. Stars include the talented Eriah and Son Asi along with the Kalakuti Orchestra, with their tribute to the late Nigerian star Fela Kuti and Galissa Liebeskind 4tet.
For contemporary music head to:
Galissa Liebeskind 4tet – Cour de l’Hôtel de Ville – Friday 23 June, 21h20
Kalakuti Orchestra – The Reformation Wall, Friday 23 June. 23h 30
Eriah and Son Asi – L’observatoire, Friday 23 June, 22h30
House dat shit – Place de Neuve, Friday 23 June, 00h00
Adesiv – Place de Neuve, Saturday 24 June, 00h00
Family fun
For family music festivities head to:
L’Espace musical, Bastions Rocailles – Saturday 24 June from 11h00 to 17h00.
La Bulle d’air, Bastions Rocailles – Sunday 25 June from 11h00 to 17h30.
Dance
To see dance head to the courtyard of the Musée d’art et d’histoire on the left bank and other assorted venues. Dance associations including the contemporary dance association will present 60 dance performances across the three days. Performances take place on Friday 23 June from 19h30 to 1h00, Saturday 24 June from 15h00 to 1h00, and Sunday 25 June from 15h00 to 21h00.
There will be other dance performances in other locations.
Cinema
To see cinema head to Grütli Cinema at 16 rue du Général Dufour. The cinema will be showing films rich with music.
Cinémas du Grütli – Rue du Général-Dufour 16, 1204 Geneva
Dancer – Saturday at 14h00 or Sunday at 20h15 – Trailer.
Les parapluies de Cherbourg – Saturday at 16h00 ; Sunday at 18h15 – Trailer.
The idol – Saturday 20h00; Sunday at 22h00 – Trailer.
…or to open air cinema at Place de Neuve
On the town (Un jour à New York) – Saturday at 16h00 ; Sunday at 14h00 – Trailer.
Amy the girl behind the name (The Amy Winehouse story)- Saturday at 22h00 ; Sunday 16h00 – Trailer.
Practical information
Some streets will be closed to cars from 19:30 on 23 June until 23:00 on Sunday 25 June. The streets affected are all of the zone around Place de Neuve and the Promenade Saint-Antoine. There will also be parking restrictions near concert areas.
Nighttime public transport will be available departing from Rive, Bel-Air and Cornavin.
More on this:
Geneva music festival website (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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