PETER BENCE SYMPHONIC

SINFONIETTA DE LAUSANNE

A bold artistic and educational project, combined with a relaxed approach to classical performance: this is the Sinfonietta de Lausanne, a professional ensemble with a flexible line-up, founded in 1981 by Jean-Marc Grob under the name "Orchestre des Rencontres Musicales". The ensemble was subsequently led by Alexandre Mayer, then by David Reiland, whose successor from the 2026/27 season will be Lucie Leguay. Originality is the guiding principle of this orchestra, which collaborates both with the major musical institutions of the Lake Geneva region and with artists from other musical genres such as Zaz, Björk and Youssoupha. The Sinfonietta de Lausanne is a highly popular springboard for young talent and, through special concerts, also caters to people with disabilities and young audiences.

LUCIE LEGUAY

“An inspiring conductor, at the crossroads of tradition and contemporary creation”: this is how the Sinfonietta de Lausanne describes its new music director, who took up her post at the start of the 2026/27 concert season. Having made her breakthrough in 2018 at the “Tremplin pour Jeunes Cheffes d’orchestre” at the Philharmonie de Paris, Lucie Leguay holds a Master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the “Haute école de musique de Lausanne”. In 2023, the French musician won the “Victoires de la Musique Classique” in the “Rising Star Conductor” category. A former assistant conductor at the Verbier Festival, she has in recent years been collaborating extensively across Europe as a guest conductor with some of the most prominent orchestras. She is also making her mark in the field of contemporary music, working alongside leading composers such as Peter Eötvös, Kaija Saariaho and Heinz Holliger.

PETER BENCE

Peter Bence is an internationally renowned Hungarian pianist, composer and producer who has won numerous awards. Known for his percussive, spectacular and expressive style, he blurs the boundaries between classical music and contemporary genres, transforming the piano into a veritable orchestra. After training in Hungary, he studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, specialising in film music. In 2012, he entered the Guinness Book of Records for the highest number of piano keystrokes in a minute (765). His videos have now been viewed more than 2.5 billion times and have earned him a huge international fan base, who can see him perform live at prestigious venues such as the Sydney Opera House, the London Palladium and the Grand Rex in Paris.

PETER BENCE SYMPHONIC

The Hungarian pianist Peter Bence is renowned for his rousing stage shows, in which he uses looping technology to transform his instrument, the piano, into an entire orchestra, complete with percussion effects. In his new programme, "Peter Bence Symphonic", he is further supported by a live orchestra to present a symphonic concert in four parts: masterpieces of film music, including works by John Williams and Hans Zimmer; legendary pop-rock hits, including reimagined songs by Queen and Michael Jackson; as well as his own compositions, culminating in one of his spectacular solo performances. As in his previous programmes, the precisely timed lighting design plays a key role, making Bence’s performances not only a multi-stylistic but also a multimedia experience.