Plans For New Swiss Theater Thwarted

The project was launched by the Salle Modulable foundation, its name hinting at the new theater’s capacity to adapt to different requirements of the performing arts sector. The project would have cost an estimated $165 million.

The foundation’s aim was to complement Lucerne’s existing live offerings, such as Lucerne Theater, Lucerne Festival and the city’s Symphonic Orchestra with a new venue. Salle Modulable’s director, Michael Haeflinger, told the Luzerner Zeitung that he intends to hold on to his vision for a new theatre infrastructure, which would enable him to add opera to Lucerne Festival, which he also directs.

Haeflinger wants to pull though with his plans of doing more opera. He’ll be discussing with partners and the city of Lucerne about how to achieve that, and also look into existing venues.

And while the opera offerings might move to another city, the festival itself won’t. “Lucerne is our home,” he said. The foundation’s president, Hubert Achermann, called the council’s decision to refuse credit “shortsighted and spiritless.”

He added that this project would have deserved to be approved by the council, which would have meant that the public would have had the final say in a referendum.