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It has been a great joy for me to join forces with my colleagues at SONARLOFT in Berlin to launch a new composition prize. Our aim is to give young composers a stage and present new works within our concert series. The winning piece will be premiered on October 10, 2025 at Kühlhaus Berlin – a moment we are all eagerly looking forward to.

With the end of summer, the submission period for the Berliner Composition Prize 2025 has concluded, and we are delighted that the number of applications has exceeded our expectations both in quality and in scope. Composers from 19 countries submitted their works, including Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

This international response is truly impressive and highlights the strong shared passion for contemporary chamber music. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all applicants for their creativity and commitment.

On October 10, the main prize will be formally presented by Stiftung am Grunewald – and here as well, my deepest thanks go to the foundation: without their generous support, this project would not have been possible.

Dear friends and music lovers,

The Styrian Chamber Music Festival 2025 is just around the corner, and I’m truly excited to be part of several wonderful concerts again this year. From alpine folk vibes to legendary masterpieces – here’s a glimpse into the musical journey that awaits:

• Thu, July 31 – Gipfeltreffen Vol. 3 on the Schöckl Mountain: A special mountaintop evening where folk meets classical – and yes, it’s that one time each year I bring out the steirische Harmonika (Styrian accordion)! Joined by clarinet and accordion, we’ll create a high-altitude soundscape full of charm and rhythm.

• Fri, August 1 – Burg & Burgunder at Rabenstein Castle: A majestic evening in a historic setting, complete with wine tasting. I’ll join the Ineo Quartet for Schumann’s stirring Piano Quintet and more – music and wine in perfect harmony.

• Fri, August 8 – Hundert Finger at forumKLOSTER Gleisdorf: 100 fingers, 2 pianos, 4 hands – together with Albanian pianist Zamir Kabo, we’ll dive into the lush world of Rachmaninoff. Expect some dark Romanticism and fiery flair!

• Sun, August 10 – C&C at Schloss St. Georgen an der Stiefing: Baroque with a twist – I’ll be playing harpsichord (!) alongside cellist Reinhard Latzko for an energetic evening of Bach, Vivaldi, and perhaps even a tango or two.

• Sat, August 16 – Großklein in Bruck an der Mur: Big music in an intimate setting – Mozart’s Piano Concerto in chamber version, performed with a string quintet and me at the keys. A rare and close-up experience of a classic.

• Sun, August 17 – Odyssee at Stift Rein: A very special concert with violinist Cosima Soulez-Larivière, where we’ll perform excerpts from our upcoming album Odyssey – a musical journey through Greek mythology. The evening also features Beethoven’s legendary Kreutzer Sonata – powerful, poetic, unforgettable.

I can’t wait to share these moments with all of you. Let’s celebrate music together under summer skies – I’m looking forward to seeing familiar faces and new friends along the way!

Dear friends and music lovers,

It’s that time of year again – the Musik Festspiele Graz Süd are just around the corner, and I’m absolutely delighted to invite you to two very special concert evenings!

On June 13th, we’ll be performing in the beautiful church of Hausmannstätten, and on June 14th, in the elegant Kursaal Laßnitzhöhe. I’ll be joined on stage by the wonderful Trio with Johannes Fleischmann on violin and Konstantin Manaev on cello. Together, we’ll take you on a heartfelt journey through the world of chamber music.

A true highlight of the program will be Johannes Brahms’ Piano Trio No. 1 in B major – a cornerstone of the chamber music repertoire and a work that never fails to stir the soul. Every time we perform it, it feels like a fresh discovery – full of depth, emotion, and musical brilliance.

I’m looking forward to seeing many familiar faces, enjoying meaningful moments, and celebrating music together in the green heart of Styria.

On Saturday, February 1, 2025, I warmly invite you to a very special concert in the magnificent setting of the Vienna Musikverein! Together with Johannes Fleischmann (violin) and Konstantin Manaev (cello), I will perform Beethoven’s captivating Triple Concerto – a piece that places the cello in a truly unique spotlight. A delightful anecdote suggests that this masterpiece only came to life because the famous cellist Bernhard Romberg refused to play a concerto by Beethoven – leaving us with “only” the Triple Concerto. Speaking of Romberg: Look forward to the Romberg Festival in July, where there will be so much to discover!

The new album ‘ODYSSEY’ together with the French-Dutch violinist Cosima Soulez Larivière will be released in 2025. As a Christmas special, it is now possible to pre-order the physical CD and listen to it before the international release. Join us on a sonic odyssey through the world of classical music with works by Karol Szymanowski, John Corigliano, Paul Hindemith and Kevin Puts.

For more information and to pre-order click here.

It’s that time again – SYMPHONIACS is going on tour! I’m beyond excited to finally be back on stage, sharing these unique experiences with our audiences. This time, we’re touring across Austria and Southern Germany, performing in some really special locations.

Here are our tour dates for November:

• November 12 – Innsbruck
• November 13 – Feldkirch, Austria
• November 14 – Lindau
• November 15 – Friedrichshafen
• November 16 – Konstanz
• November 17 – Augsburg

For me, the real magic is seeing how our blend of classical instruments and electronic sounds resonates with the audience. There’s this moment when the first beats drop and the strings come in – it’s pure magic. I think it’s moments like these that remind us all why we make music.

And I’m really looking forward to chatting with many of you after the shows. These interactions and the energy we share keep us inspired and moving forward.

While the weather in summer invites you to sunbathe, the sunny days are also used to make music. Several concerts have already filled me with great joy – and not always “just” on the piano. On Graz’s local mountain, the Schöckl, there was another summit meeting vol. 2 on the Styrian harmonica this year – simply a joy to make music on…

The next highlights are the trout quintet, the composer portrait by Gerd Kühr (Grand Austrian State Prize), the complete Beethoven cello sonatas with Reinhard Latzko and the music summer at Mani Sonnenlink in Greece. Enjoy the summer, enjoy the marvellous music.

From 14 to 16 June, Kulturland Graz-Süd will once again host a veritable feast of musical specialities. I am delighted to be able to support the outstanding consortium of the municipalities of Hausmannstätten, Fernitz-Mellach and Nestelbach as musical director again this year.

Special thanks go to the mayors Robert Tulnik, Patrick Dorner, Klaus Steinberger, the president Werner Kirchsteiger and especially the artistic director Manfred Glawogger!

The programme includes a varied programme with the opening evening on 14 June in the Fernitz parish church with the festival ensemble and violinist Johannes Fleischmann. The programme continues with a piano duo/solo evening on 15 June with Florian Groß in the Generationensaal in Hausmannstätten. The festival concludes with the Neue Hofkapelle in the church in Nestelbach on 16 June.

More information and the exact programme can be found here.

I can hardly put into words how unforgettable the last tour with the K&K Philharmonics was. From the breathtaking Isarphilharmonie in Munich to the elegant Tonhalle in Düsseldorf and the majestic Philharmonie in Cologne – each stop was a unique experience.

However, the highlight was undoubtedly the grand finale at the renowned Philharmonie in Berlin. Under the direction of outstanding conductors Matthias G. Kendlinger and Max Kendlinger, a colorful program was presented, combining Verdi with Kendlinger, captivating the audience.

The collaboration with talented hip-hop dancer Yann Antonio from Paris was particularly impressive. His high-energy performances seamlessly blended into the musical fireworks on stage, creating goosebump moments.

This tour will forever remain in my memory – a collaboration of master musicians, an enthusiastic audience, and unforgettable moments.

While a lot is happening in the world, music is all the more a safe haven. Leonard Bernstein’s 2nd Symphony – which resembles a piano concerto – is entitled “The Age of Anxiety” and fits the here and now. I am looking forward to a wonderful collaboration with the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Charles Olivieri-Monroe on 25 April.