Kristina Brunners Ländlerorchester

The «Stubete am See» Zurich festival for new folk music at the Tonhalle regularly gives out commissions for small Ländler (Swiss folk music) groups to compose new works. This year, Kristina Brunner received this award, which is always a huge challenge in itself.

 The new composition «Fahre» (Drive) is without question a highpoint in Brunner’s already impressive career. «Fahre» stands for landscapes whizzing by, mood paintings, soundscapes and the space between when you are in and out of your comfort zone. «Fahre» also means being on the move. The composition takes up almost the entire evening – it is a Ländler symphony, a mesh of music and words for which Brunner brought plenty of attractive names from new Swiss folk music on board, including author Pedro Lenz.

 The Schwyzerörgeli (diatonic accordion) and folk music have been part of Kristina Brunner’s life ever since she was born, in 1993, into a musical family in Thun. After graduating from school, she studied cello with a focus on folk music and Schwyzerörgeli under Markus Flückiger at the Lucerne Music School. She is always keen to play concerts with any number of ensembles, and also performs with her sister Evelyn Brunner. She is also known for her work with Lucerne Schwyzerörgeli player and saxophonist Albin Brun, with whom she will incidentally be performing in the last concert of the «Home Sounds» season on board MS Rigi on 15 June 2025.