Switzerland and Europe — Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Martha Argerich, Piano, Charles Dutoit, Conductor

Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana

Resident orchestra at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura (Ticino, Switzerland), the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana (OSI) continues its successful trajectory, acclaimed by audiences and critics alike across major European theatres and concert halls. Since 2022, its principal guest conductor has been Krzysztof Urbanski, succeeding Vladimir Ashkenazy in the role.

The orchestra presents three concert cycles annually in Lugano: OSI al LAC, from autumn to spring; OSI in Auditorio; and OSI a Pentecoste, created to establish a regular appointment with the OSI during a particularly meaningful weekend for international audiences. These are complemented by special events aimed at engaging new audiences, including concerts for around 10,000 children each year as part of cultural outreach initiatives.

The OSI collaborates with internationally renowned conductors and soloists. Among them is Martha Argerich, with whom the orchestra has maintained a privileged relationship for over twenty years, and Sol Gabetta, with whom it has developed a stable collaboration leading to the creation of the triennial festival *Presenza al LAC*, set to return to Lugano in 2027.

The orchestra maintains an intense recording activity in collaboration with Swiss Italian-language broadcaster RSI. The OSI and Markus Poschner—principal conductor until 2025—received two prestigious ICMA awards: in 2018 for the complete symphonies of Brahms (Sony Classical), and in 2025 for a CD featuring works by Hindemith and Schnittke (ECM New Series). Notable recordings also include a series dedicated to Rossini's unpublished works and Tchaikovsky's Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6.

Opera and ballet co-productions, outdoor concerts, and summer festivals complete the programming, attracting an ever-growing audience.

The Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana thanks all its sponsors, particularly the Republic and Canton of Ticino—Swisslos Fund, the City of Lugano, the ERSL municipalities, the Friends of OSI Association, main sponsor BancaStato, and the Canton of the Grisons.

The OSI also expresses gratitude to its main partner, RSI, for its continuous support and frequent radio broadcasts.

MARTHA ARGERICH. Piano

Born in Buenos Aires, Martha Argerich began her first piano lessons at the age of five with Vincenzo Scaramuzza and soon started performing concerts and recitals regularly. In 1955, she moved to Europe and continued her studies in London, Vienna, and Switzerland with Bruno Seidlhofer, Friedrich Gulda, Nikita Magaloff, Dinu Lipatti, and Stefan Askenase. In 1957, she won the piano competitions in Bolzano and Geneva, and in 1965, she triumphed at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. Since then, she has been regarded as one of the world’s most outstanding pianists, both in terms of technical mastery and popularity.

A specialist in virtuosic masterpieces of the 19th and 20th centuries, she maintains a broad repertoire that includes works by Bach, Bartók, Beethoven, and Messiaen, as well as those of Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Franck, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Tchaikovsky. Invited by the world’s most prestigious orchestras, conductors, and music festivals, chamber music remains deeply important to her. She performs and records with Mischa Maisky, Alexandre Rabinovitch, Gidon Kremer, Daniel Barenboim, and has collaborated with Nelson Freire for over fifty years.

She has recorded for EMI, Sony, Philips, Teldec, and Deutsche Grammophon, and her performances have been televised worldwide. She has received numerous awards: a Grammy for her recording of the Bartók and Prokofiev concertos; Artist of the Year and Best Concerto Recording of the Year from *Gramophone* for her Chopin recording; *Choc du Monde de la Musique*, Artist of the Year from the German Record Critics’ Award, and additional Grammys for Prokofiev’s *Cinderella* with Pletnev, and Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 3 with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra under Abbado (DG – Best Instrumental Soloist).

In 1998, she became Artistic Director of the Beppu Festival in Japan. In 1999, she founded the International Martha Argerich Piano Competition and Festival in Buenos Aires, and in 2018 launched the Martha Argerich Festival in Hamburg.

She maintains a privileged relationship with the OSI and the city of Lugano, where she was a central figure in the Martha Argerich Project festival from 2002 to 2017 and continues to return frequently.

Martha Argerich has been honored with numerous distinctions, including three Grammy Awards.

CHARLES DUTOIT. Conductor

Charles Dutoit (born October 7, 1936, in Lausanne, Switzerland) is one of the most prominent conductors of his generation, celebrated for his affinity with French and Russian repertoire of the 20th century. His musical training encompassed violin, viola, piano, percussion, composition, and conducting at the conservatories of Lausanne and Geneva, as well as at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena and Tanglewood, studying under masters such as Charles Münch.

He began his professional career in 1959, conducting the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra with Martha Argerich as soloist. He subsequently held positions with the Bern Symphony Orchestra (1967–1978), the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico (1973–1975), and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (1975–1978).

In 1977, he was appointed Music Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, a role he held for 25 years. Under his leadership, the orchestra achieved international acclaim, undertaking extensive tours and producing over 170 recordings, many of which received international awards, including two Grammys.

Dutoit also served as Music Director of the Orchestre National de France (1991–2001) and the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo (1996–2003). In 2009, he assumed the Artistic Directorship of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, serving until 2018.

He has collaborated with leading orchestras worldwide, including those of Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Berlin, Amsterdam, and London. He has worked with distinguished soloists such as Martha Argerich, Renée Fleming, Lang Lang, and Julian Rachlin.

Dutoit has received numerous awards and honors, including Officer of the Order of Canada and the National Order of Quebec. He has been named Conductor Laureate of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

In his personal life, he was married to pianist Martha Argerich and is currently married to violinist Chantal Juillet.