The Arosa Humor Festival is now in its 25th year. But the punchlines are still as fresh as the new snow.5 questions for Frank Baumann (59), director of the amusing summit meeting.
The Arosa Humor Festival is entering its 25th round. What are you particularly looking forward to this year?
I always look forward to the whole package. As the person responsible for the program, I have of course seen all the artists before, so it would be strange if I were to call myself a comedian now. But I look forward to meeting all the artists and to the overall experience. The best thing is always when I look into the audience from backstage and see everyone laughing.
What have you come up with especially for the 25th edition?
We haven't changed anything in the program this year especially for the anniversary. Nevertheless, there will be surprises during the festival, but I won't reveal them. The anniversary gala, which will be hosted by Sandra Studer, will be broadcast on Swiss television on Saturday evening, December 17, 2016.
What is the focus of the program this year?
It only has Swiss artists in the program. Even the Swede, Carl-Einar Häckner, is often thought to be Swiss. The German chaos theater Oropax is here so often that they almost live in Switzerland, and the Polish MozART Group & Krosny took our jackets with them last time, so they also carry Switzerland abroad.
What is the secret of the Arosa Humor Festival's success?
I think it's Arosa as a location and the good artists. Arosa is located in the middle of an incredibly beautiful mountain world, you have this wonderful mountain air here. The fact that our Bedouin tent is in the middle of the snow makes the whole thing even more extraordinary. I keep hearing from people that they walked to Arosa after the performances in the snow under a starry sky. That is of course a wonderful memory.
What are the highlights of this year's program for you?
I'm really looking forward to the Swedish comedy magician Carl-Einar Häckner and the joint show by Frölein Da Capo and Hazel Brugger. I saw the talk by Viktor Giacobbo and Roger Köppel on YouTube as part of "Berner reden" and then had the idea of engaging Giacobbo for the Arosa Humor Festival. On December 15, he will therefore be speaking in our humor hall with three people, who we are not yet revealing, and offering us entertaining entertainment.
About the Arosa Humor Festival
The 25th edition of the Arosa Humor Festival is also a commitment: the audience has high expectations of what they will be offered on the eleven funny days in December. An extensive program was put together for the anniversary: Many well-known comedians from home and abroad have been engaged. From Switzerland, for example, the cabaret duo Divertimento, Marco Rima, Gardi Hutter, Helga Schneider, Fabian Unteregger, Viktor Giacobbo, Hazel Brugger and Stiller Haas will be performing. From abroad, the Chaos Theater Oropax from Germany, Carl-Einar Häckner from Sweden and the MozART Group & Krosny from Poland will be among those making their way to Graubünden.
A highlight this year is the new program "Seitenwechsel" by Ohne Rolf (photo). Lucerne-based Christof Wolfisberg and Jonas Anderhub (both 40) have been making a name for themselves with their silent comedy performances since 1999. The recipe: the two poster artists show signs printed with text and make their punchlines, the audience reads the texts themselves. In November, they celebrate the premiere of their new program in Lucerne.
25TH AROSA HUMOR FESTIVAL
8. to 18.12.16, Arosa
TICKETS
