A first for the Festival: our new Executive and Artistic Director, Sebastian Nordmann, kicks off the Summer Festival by inviting everyone to a big party – free of charge. The acclaimed horn player Sarah Willis and her Havana Lyceum Orchestra bring samba and salsa rhythms, Cuban traditionals, and lively classical arrangements to the Europaplatz – music that invites the audience to join in and enjoy the moment.

Havana Lyceum Orchestra | José Antonio Méndez Padrón | Sarah Willis

KKL Lucerne

The ensemble Sarahbanda , founded as part of the popular Mozart y Mambo project by Berlin Philharmonic member Sarah Willis, explores the fascinating Cuban dance rhythms in a completely new way by incorporating the French horn, which is not present in traditional Cuban music. Together with a group of Cuba's most talented musicians, the star horn player creates a completely new sound with exclusive arrangements of some of the best-known Cuban songs and original compositions by the band members – fresh, innovative, and irresistible!

Latino Mozart: Opening Concert - The Sarahbanda | Master Concert

Mozarteum Foundation

It's pure "soul food," says Stewart Goodyear of his suite for piano and orchestra entitled "Callaloo." He wanted to create a musical tribute to his Caribbean roots. With a blend of jazz, African, and French influences, which for him are the musical heart of Trinidad, the Havana Lyceum Orchestra imports Caribbean sound to Wiesbaden in this unique concert project. The orchestra's specialty: transforming a classical concert hall into a truly exuberant atmosphere. There's no question that this year's guest performance will also feature plenty of rhythm and son, plenty of Cuba, and even more enthusiasm.

Stewart Goodyear, piano Havana Lyceum Orchestra José Antonio Méndez Padrón, conductor

Friedrich-von-Thiersch-Saal

Einige der namhaftesten Pianisten Lateinamerikas wie Chucho Valdés, Roberto Fonseca oder Omar Sosa stammen aus Kuba – Marialy Pacheco ist bis heute die einzige weibliche Vertreterin, der es gelungen ist, in diese Phalanx vorzustoßen. Als erste Frau gewann die in Havanna geborene, mittlerweile in Deutschland lebende Künstlerin 2012 den Klavierwettbewerb des renommierten Jazzfestivals in Montreux. In dem Programm „Danzon..

Gastkonzert

BASF-Feierabendhaus

I am so excited to bring my childhood experience of listening to the music of my Cuban heritage while growing up in Miami to my home in Madison. This program will demonstrate the tremendous versatility of our Overture Concert Organ in a way that you all have not heard before. I contacted my childhood guitar teacher, Alvaro Bermudez, to help put together a band of some of the best classical and jazz musicians in Miami. Magela Herrera, flute, Alvaro Bermudez, guitar, Yarelis Gandul, percussion, and Alex Hernandez, bass, will join forces with me and our Mighty Klais to present a bilingual program of both classical and popular Latin-American music. We will even premiere the lyrics that my grandfather wrote to one of the most popular Cuban songs of his day. I cannot wait to bring this joyous and emotional event to our Madison community. — Greg Zelek

Moisés Simons

Events

Past events

Aug 13, 2026

Havana Lyceum Orchestra | José Antonio Méndez Padrón | Sarah Willis · Lucerne Festival

Oct 14, 2025

Latino Mozart: Opening Concert - The Sarahbanda | Master Concert · Internationale Stiftung Mozarteum

About

Moisés Simons hasn't added a bio