What do you remember about the 1964 National Exhibition?

Futuristic sounds, technological progress and political filters: three standout attractions from Expo '64 that still captivate today. Traces of the exhibition can also be found in the present day. "On land and on water, to be a mirror of the homeland" was the goal of Expo '64, according to its charter. Over 12 million visitors made their way to Lausanne in the summer of 1964. A symphony for machines Looking back, the early 1960s are often seen as a golden era, marked by economic growth and widespread prosperity. Swiss composer Rolf Liebermann took a wry look at this period of economic success. In his "Symphonie des Echanges" (Symphony of Exchanges), composed for Expo '64, Liebermann translated the flow of goods and money into sound. However, instead of traditional instruments, the "techno of the national exhibition" was played by 156 modern machines—the same machines that kept offices, shops and transport running. The symphony was performed live, without a conductor. In keeping ...