There was a time, not too long ago, when the Lucerne Festival was only a minor blip on the classical music scene, but these days, the Swiss town is among the most important stops for the world’s top touring orchestras. But it wasn’t until Claudio Abbado came on board in 2000 that the festival developed the idea to create its very own dream ensemble. “What Abbado proposed was for the festival to have its own orchestra once again, but one of a very special nature… Its 40-odd members would be supplemented by players from the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics, as well as front-rank chamber musicians and soloists. Indeed, the orchestra’s roll-call was astonishing.”