Climate glue storms the KKL theater in Lucerne

Climate activists from the organization Renovate Switzerland boycotted the performance of Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony by the Bavarian State Orchestra at the KKL on Friday evening at around 9:35 pm on the occasion of the Lucerne Festival. Two activists stormed the stage in the middle of the concert and stuck to the conductor’s podium, Renovate Switzerland wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The two climate stickers on T-shirts say “Act Now!” They bounced, causing a short interruption. But Commander Vladimir Yurovsky remained calm and continued to lead. As the party continued, a female employee called out to the hall: “We have climate change, and we have to act now!” The public’s reaction was angry. Concertgoers shouted at the climate posters, demanding people get out. One of the activists was not deterred and shouted in the hall: “The heat wave is killing – the floods: the time is now.”

According to Renovate Switzerland, the climate posters are Selena Lerch (28 years old) and Anthony Zufferi (20 years old), an international relations student. According to Renew Switzerland, there was an agreement between Yurovsky connector and climate adhesives. Renovate Switzerland wrote: “After 10 minutes, at the end of the sentence, conductor Jurowski spoke to the two activists and then told the audience that he wanted them to speak. He agreed with the two that they could explain their concerns, and in return the concert could end undisturbed.” Conductor Yurovsky had insisted after a few more boos from the audience. Renovate Switzerland quoted Yurovsky as saying: “If you don’t let them… “When it’s over, I’ll leave the stage.” Lerch then recalled the climate emergency in short, urgent words and expressed her fear of it. After thanking Jourowski, the two left the stage. The concert then completed without disruption.

Booing from the audience

According to our newspaper correspondent (the concert report follows), the conductor reacted with great confidence. There was some very strong feedback from the audience – in standard German. When the activists, as agreed, began to speak to the conductor, there were some boos from the audience, whereupon the conductor announced in clear words that one should now listen for a moment. The activist’s statement was very general, that is, it had nothing to do with the Lucerne Festival, and was rather boring. After that, the concert ended amidst warm applause from the conductor and the orchestra.

Climate activists are always looking for surprising targets for their thorny activities. On Easter, for example, they blocked access to the Gotthard Road tunnel. The rhetoric against the movement is growing stronger because these measures continue to attract criticism, even in environmental circles. Many politicians are calling for tougher action, and climate activists are increasingly facing hostility on social networks. The upset at the Lucerne Festival is the fourth event this summer after the “appearance” at the Locarno Film Festival, the Diamond League meet at the Letzigrund in Zurich, and the golf tournament in Crans-Montana.