It took place for the first time in 2017, and Ginesta Immobilien has been supporting it as a sponsor since 2018: the Küsnacht Classical Music Festival. Despite intensive preparations for this year's 6th edition, which will take place between 14 and 18 September 2022, Astrid Leutwyler, managing director and artistic director of the festival together with her sister Sonja Leutwyler, found the time to talk to us. How the festival is doing today, how important the right support is and what they hope for the future.

Dear Astrid. We are glad that you still found the time to visit us.

Very much so. Of course there is still work to be done, but we are very well organised and, to be honest, I can hardly wait until it starts. Because every concert is a world premiere of works that were created under Sonja's and my direction and that are usually only heard and seen once. A certain tension builds up, which only dissipates completely on Sunday evening after the last note has been played.

The sixth edition of the still young festival awaits us, which also had to cope with uncertain Corona years. How is the festival doing today?

Fortunately, it was very good and our plan worked. Despite the proximity to Zurich with its diverse programme, the interest of the population is great and they are happy to be culturally spoiled with a high-quality programme right on their doorstep, a bit away from the usual concert paths. From the very beginning we had the support of the municipality of Küsnacht, which of course knows us very well: Sonja and I grew up here, we won the culture prize together when we were young and have always been supported and accompanied by the municipality on our artistic path. Our idea of founding a festival in Küsnacht immediately fell on open ears and the support and financial backing also from other sponsors made it possible for our idea to become reality.

It was also good for us that we were able to hold the festival in the Corona period despite higher personnel costs and expenses, a change of concert hall from the Seehof to the larger parish centre and overall less planning security. The audience was very happy to be able to enjoy concerts again and to experience live music despite the mask and distance.

Almost more important for us, however, was that our festival came to the attention of outstanding musicians who greatly appreciated the courage to make concerts possible despite the restrictions. As a result, even more gifted artists have the attractive classical music festival on their radar. Today, we consistently host renowned and internationally known artists who greatly appreciate and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at our festival. For me personally, it is also a special pleasure and makes me proud that we have already received a first request for one of our programmes, and that from such a renowned festival as Murten Classics. So the classical music festival is well on its way and has an all-round positive momentum - for us as organisers and obviously also for our guests and artists.

The Küsnacht Classical Music Festival aims to entertain classical music lovers at a high level and at the same time to inspire newcomers to the genre. Does it succeed in satisfying these different expectations? And if so, what is the secret magic ingredient?

A look at the first five years says: Yes, it is succeeding. Of course, it is a tightrope walk, because to achieve this goal, familiar formats must also be broken. This can be achieved with unusual venues, an unconventional programme and through unusual proximity. We have included just enough of everything so that even the core audience for classical music, which is very familiar with the sounding names in our programme, is happy to come. On the opening evening, for example, we break with the classical format by having Kurt Aeschbacher as the moderator for the evening, with music ranging from classical to film music to jazz, and with a concert length of a good hour that is comfortable even for beginners. With Walter Andreas Müller at one of the children's concerts, we have another presenter known to the general public, who loosens everything up and thus takes on a door-opening role for classical music. After each concert, the musicians mingle with the audience, and another important factor in reaching new target groups is, of course, our popular prices. A full-paying ticket, for example, doesn't cost fifty francs, and students only pay just 22 francs.

The same applies to children and youth, we have also discovered various offers for this untypical target group in the programme. What is it all about?

Because this target group usually has little contact with "classical" music without parents who love classical music, we want to make access easy for them too. And we want to make it as accessible as possible with the painting workshops for 7 to 10 year olds, the two short, varied and even more affordable children's and family concerts on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and of course the "Next Generation" format, which is made possible by Ginesta as presenting partner. This year we have the wonderful William Youn as our guest. He has won several prizes in international competitions and is one of the most promising young pianists in the world. In the afternoon, he will dedicate himself to four talents from our region between the ages of 6 and 14 who have been selected by a jury. They will play with him as part of a master class open to the public, which, by the way, is always a very nice and free event in the concert hall of the Seehof Küsnacht. The four participants then sit in the front row during his concert, which will be moderated again this year by Claude Ginesta together with me.

Speaking of sponsorship, how did this collaboration with Ginesta come about?

It's just that a festival like ours needs support. Nevertheless, it was important to us that all partners fit in with us. Ginesta Immobilien was on my wish list from the beginning, because my office is only a few metres from your headquarters. The stylish furnishings, the upbeat staff, the beautiful properties on display, the high reputation in the region - all this convinced me. So I did some research on the internet and found out that the company has been based here for decades and, like our association, is family-run. Two important values for us, the regional and the family. At some point, while passing by, I mustered up all my courage, went to the reception desk and the rest is history.

Dear Astrid, we are at least as happy as you are that you took this step back then. Not only that we can support a good and important cause for Küsnacht. But also that you provide us with first-class classical entertainment once a year. So of course we would like to know: What's next for the Küsnacht Classical Music Festival?

We thought long and hard about the name and consciously and clearly decided on two commitments: one to classical music and one to Küsnacht. We will continue to live up to this commitment in the future, even though the signs are pointing to growth. This means that we will not suddenly move to Zurich or organise jazz concerts. We will stick to what we do best: improving the quality of the programme with programmes designed especially for the festival, investing in our contacts to renowned musicians, constantly looking at larger potential venues and, if necessary, expanding the programme with more concerts. Who knows, maybe one day we will even find a location that we can use as a concert hall. A special place that also breaks through the usual and is already spectacular in itself. Because that is one of the few things that is missing here in Küsnacht: an extraordinary venue with that certain something extra.

Thank you very much Astrid for the pleasant conversation. And who knows, maybe one day we will come across such a location in our real estate activities that could be suitable for your purposes.

That's exactly why I told you that (laughs). Thank you for the nice conversation and of course for your valuable support for years. See you soon at the Küsnacht Classical Music Festival.

There are currently only a few tickets left for the events of the Küsnacht Classical Music Festival. Click here to go to the website and order tickets.