Artists & projects

Simon Höfele, 25, is one of the most exciting trumpeters of the up-and-coming generation. He qA BBC Radio3 new generation artist, Rising Star of the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) 2019-20, nominated by Philharmonie Cologne, Konzerthaus Dortmund and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and “Junger Wilder” at Konzerthaus Dortmund.

At the age of 27 Ildikó Szabó is already a cello-institution in her home country Hungary. In 2014 she was awarded 2nd prize, the audience award and 7 special prizes at the International Pablo Casals Competition. She is currently studying at Kronberg Academy and lives in Berlin.

In 2014, cellist Benedict Kloeckner founded the "Internationales Musikfestival Koblenz“ (International Music Festival Koblenz; IMUKO). Since then, the festival with its world renowned artists has become an institution not only in this area. Despite the Corona crisis, there will be an edition in 2020 as well - though under different cirumstances. The IMUKO 2020 will take place as a series of mostly open-air concerts at the most beautiful venues along the Rhine Valley (July 4 - September 29), such as the cloister of Kloster Eberbach, in the park of Schloss Burg Namedy and the open air theater at the Loreleyblick Maria Ruh.

Roland Kluttig has been general music director at the Landestheater Coburg since 2010 and will be joining the opera Graz as new Chief Conductor from season 2020/21. In the 2019/20 season, he will be conducting “Rheingold” and “The Greek Passion” in Coburg, a new production of “Le nozze di Figaro” at Stuttgart State Opera and giving his debuts at Dresden State Opera (“Semperoper”) and with the Symphoniker Hamburg.

For his second studio album, #GoldbergReflections (Sony), the German violinist Niklas Liepe takes on Bach's Goldberg Variations in a version for violin and orchestra – and explores the continued resonance of this epochal masterpiece in our era with specially commissioned works by 11 contemporary composers.

The Paris based Quatuor Modigliani, which was founded in 2003, is a regular guest of the world’s top venues and finest String Quartet & Chamber Music series.

The Molyvos International Music Festival (MIMF) is a unique project in the North Aegean region that brings together the greatest international young talents for a four-day celebration of world- class classical music. The motto of the 2019 edition was "Dia-logos".

Hailed by Gramophone Magazine as "one of the finest among the astonishing gallery of young virtuoso cellists", German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser has performed with the world’s leading orchestras. His latest recordings include the concertos by Dvořák, Lalo, Elgar and Tchaikovsky, which have gained him the prestigious Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and the Diapason d'Or. Johannes Moser records exclusively for the label PENTATONE.

Biography Fabian Müller could establish himself as one of the most remarkable German pianists of his generation. He caused a great sensation at the International ARD music competition in Munich…

Compulsion and freedom are the poles between which the life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven can be placed. This is exemplified by his late work, which transcends the boundaries of form, becomes fragile and reaches a level of freedom and radicalism never before seen. Staged Concert for a string quartet, an electric guitar, four performers, a sound designer and two cameras.

It is already visible from a great distance: Hellenstein Castle, located 74 metres above the city of Heidenheim an der Brenz. The Heidenheim Opera Festival (Opernfestspiele Heidenheim) has been taking place here for more than five decades, celebrating its milestone 50th anniversary in 2014. It is one of the five oldest opera festivals in Germany, with a tradition to match. In 2017, more than 17,600 visitors came here to experience unique operatic performances and concerts in the ruins of the castle's former “Knights' Hall” (Rittersaal) – “one of Europe's most beautiful open-air music stages” (“Welt”) – or at other venues in the region.

As a conductor, Alejo Pérez possesses an inherent stylistic awareness and the ability to bring every detail of the most complex score to life. This has consistently secured him a firm place on the international opera and concert scene. Since the 2019/20 season, Alejo Pérez is Music Director of the Opera Ballet Vlaanderen.

The pianist Herbert Schuch has gained a reputation as being among the most interesting musicians of his generation with his strikingly conceived concert programmes and CD recordings. In September 2020, Herbert Schuch will release his CD "Reflecting Beethoven" (CAvi-music), in which he combines works by Beethoven with works by modern composers.

The three brothers Mark, Erik and Ken Schumann have been playing together since their earliest childhood. In 2012, they were joined by violist Liisa Randalu, who was born in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and grew up in Karlsruhe, Germany. Those who experience the quartet in performance often remark on the strong connection between its members. The four musicians enjoy the way they communicate without words: how a single look suffices to convey how a particular member wants to play a particular passage. Although the individual personalities clearly manifest themselves, a common space arises in every musical work in a process of spiritual metamorphosis.

With many of the Beethoven 250 anniversary events sadly cancelled, the great man’s genius can still be celebrated thanks to the many new recordings of his works appearing during 2020. A new cycle of the symphonies is a big event for any orchestra, and the superb Solistes Europeèn Luxembourg and their chief conductor Christoph König have over the past few years been recording all these ground breaking masterpieces.

The Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is one of Scandinavia’s most successful orchestras. SSO performs and has its concerts in the Fartein Valen in Stavanger concert hall which is considered one of the best concert halls in Europe. Andris Poga has been appointed SSO’s new Chief Conductor, effective as of 2021/22. In winter 2020, they released a new CD with Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 under the baton of Markus Stenz. Bruckner’s 7th is the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra's fifth recording on its own record company, SSO Recordings. The CD is available digitally and as CD and on Vinyl.

Intelligent clarity and an in-depth and always curious musicality characterize Markus Stenz' work. Worldwide much valued, he has held a number of high-profile positions with international orchestras and opera houses including Principal Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (2012-2019), Principal Guest of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (2015-2019), Conductor-In-Residence of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (2016-2019). He was General Music Director of the City of Cologne and Gürzenich-Kapellmeister for 11 years.

The Imàge‘s debut CD, the complete piano trios of Mauricio Kagel, created a sensation. It was awarded the ECHO Klassik prize 2014 for the best premiere recording of the year; it was also nominated for the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis and it was received with praise and applause by the press. Their second CD, with chamber music by Hans Sommer, a contemporary of Brahms, was also nominated for the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis. The third album also includes two world premiere recordings of Fall and Dyakov, combined with Dvořák and will be released in November 2020.

“MAKEDONISSIMO”, meaning “very Macedonian”, sees Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski take a detour from Beethoven and Brahms to celebrate the music of his homeland, Macedonia. Inspired by Trpčeski’s passion for the folk traditions of his homeland, Macedonian composer Pande Shahov (b. 1973), in collaboration with Trpčeski created a six movement cycle he called Pletenki (Plaits).

The Ural Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1936, is one of the best symphony orchestras in Russia today. Famous for its high quality performance culture and its flexibility in acquiring new repertoire, the orchestra consists of more than 100 musicians, performing all major Western European and Russian works from the classical and romantic period as well as works by outstanding contemporary composers.

Belgian clarinettist Annelien Van Wauwe is forging a reputation as one of the most exciting and original clarinettists of her generation, captivating audiences with her expressive, intense and lyrical performances. A former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, Annelien has won numerous international competitions. Her debut album Belle époque with the Orchestre National de Lille conducted by Alexandre Bloch was released in 2019 on Pentatone. She is the co-founder of Brussels-based CAROUSEL Chamber Music Ensemble.

Brimful of energy, Antje Weithaas’ brings her compelling musical intelligence and technical mastery to every detail of the music. Her charisma and stage presence are captivating, but never overshadow the works themselves.

The concert lab project was initiated and conceived by the State Music Council of Lower Saxony and the Orchester im Treppenhaus (Orchestra In The Staircase). Seven selected junior dramaturges will develop a contemporary concert format for young audiences for the Beethoven anniversary year 2020 as part of a full scholarship.