Artists & projects

Simon Höfele is one of the most exciting trumpeters of the up-and-coming generation. He was 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.

Founded in Barcelona, Kebyart is one of the most promising ensembles of the current music scene. These four talented musicians share an endless passion for chamber music and wish to bring fresh air in the way classical music is communicated. Their endeavour to transform their performances into a unique experience results in an explosive and vibrant staging, which has been praised by audiences and specialized critics. The distinctive signature of Kebyart is revealed in a creative and open approach to the repertoire, which goes in three directions: the original literature, the commitment with nowadays music and their own arrangements of wide variety styles.

From January 16 - 21, 2024, the Luzerner Sinfonieorchestra invites you to the third edition of its piano festival «Le Piano Symphonique» and comes up with a special sensation: Starting in 2024, the legendary pianist Martha Argerich will become «Pianiste Associée» of the Piano Festival. With this, Lucerne - which enjoys worldwide attention - should now finally advance to the «capital of the piano», as the NZZ apostrophized.

The music press got to the point when it ennobled the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester as a "booster against classical routine". In the Swiss metropolis at Lake Lucerne, the virus of concert boredom no longer finds a breeding ground. This pioneering optimism is also reflected in the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester’s 2022/23 season programme, which is characterized by an ideal melange of a sense of tradition and a spirit of discovery.

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".

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 2017, when he not only won 2nd prize in the overall ranking, but was awarded with not less than four additional prizes. He is releasing his third studio album, entitled "passionato", on the Berlin Classics label amid the coronavirus shutdown., a statement full of musical passion that casts a fresh look at standard classical works by Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms and Rihm in the here and now.

In the 2023 season, one of the world's most popular operas will once again transform the St. Margarethen Quarry into a meeting place for music lovers from all over the world: between Hollywood's dream factory and the Spanish Civil War, French director Arnaud Bernard will stage Georges Bizet's Carmen from 12 July - 20 August 2023 under the artistic direction of Daniel Serafin. Star soprano Kristīne Opolais makes an excursion into mezzo with her role debut.

With her flexible and expressive high soprano Eva Resch is one of the most exciting singers. The press raves: Resch, who knows how to switch expertly between dramatic expression and lyrical delicacy, sounds authentic in every single tone, in every urgently expressed emotion and expressiveness (Bremer Nachrichten); A new star in the lieder-singing firmament (Concerti).

The three brothers Mark, Erik and Ken Schumann have been playing together since their earliest childhood – meanwhile violist Veit Hertenstein completes the quartet. 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.

The Sitkovetsky Trio has established itself as an exceptional piano trio of today. Their thoughtful and committed approach have brought the ensemble critical acclaim and invitations to renowned concert halls around the world including the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Frankfurt Alte Oper, Palais des Beaux Arts, Musée du Louvre, l’Auditori Barcelona, Wigmore Hall or Lincoln Center New York.

Miroslav Srnka's international breakthrough came in 2016 when his opera "South Pole" was premiered at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich under Kirill Petrenko, in a production by Hans Neuenfels that featured Rolando Villazón and Thomas Hampson in the title roles. Several of Srnka's works will be premiered in the season 2022/23: The Berliner Philharmoniker will perform the orchestral work "Superorganisms" for the first time conducted by Kirill Petrenko in February 2023, before it has its Asian premiere in Tokyo with the NHK Symphony Orchestra under Ryan Wigglesworth in June 2023.

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.

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.

Melanie Diener, the internationally acclaimed soprano from Waiblingen, and the American baritone Thomas Hampson, one of the most legendary singers of our time, have joined with the city of Waiblingen in creating the International Opera Workshop and invite the best young talents to Waiblingen to take part.

Sarah Wegener approaches every role with captivating intensity. She has enthralled listeners with the warmth and richness of her voice in performances such as Strauss’ Orchestral songs under Mariss Jansons and Vladimir Jurowski in Munich, London, and Hamburg, Mahler’s 8th Symphony under Kirill Petrenko in Bregenz, Eliahu Inbal in Hamburg, and Kent Nagano in Montreal, as well as in her War and Peace programme shaped around works by Handel and Purcell, which she also presented at the Schwetzingen SWR Festival. Her “marvellously radiant voice, as powerful as it is rich in colour” (FAZ) distinguishes her as a lieder singer of the highest order, as illustrated on her highly praised CDs "Into the Deepest Sea" and "Zueignung". A recording of songs arranged by B.A. Zimmermann with the WDR Symphony Orchestra is due to be released at WERGO in October 2022.

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.

Manfred Trojahn numbers among the most important German composers of the present day and has been repeatedly honored for his works, including in 2009 with the GEMA German Music Authors Award. Above all his operas have attained a firm place in the repertoire. His upcoming opera world premiere is Septembersonate on 2nd December 2023 at Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. The libretto is based on the short story "The Jolly Corner" by Henry James.