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The North German-Hessian piano duo provides a brilliant start to the piano summer with Rachmaninov's suites and a homage to Ludwig van Beethoven.

As part of the cooperation with Sir Andràs Schiff's ‘Building Bridges’ support programme, the two alumni Julia Hamos and Natalia Milstein will be demonstrating their brilliant playing as soloists and as a duo.

Charity concert in favour of "Building Bridges"

The musicologist Leo Schrade had to flee Bonn with his Jewish wife Els and his daughter in 1938. In exile in the USA, he wrote the standard work "Beethoven in France". In this roundtable, experts will explore the couple's biographies and ask about Schrade's significance for international musicology, especially for Beethoven research around the middle of the 20th century.

String quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven

Livestream

String quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven

Livestream

String quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven

Livestream

String quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven

Livestream

String quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven

String quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven

Since the Beethoven anniversary year 2020, the 'Jugend musiziert' competition has awarded the Hermann J. Abs Prize for the best interpretation of a work by Ludwig van Beethoven. The prize is awarded by the respective national jury. The prize includes a concert performance of the competition programme in the Chamber Music Hall.

With the kind support of the Hermann J. Abs Foundation

It is rare for a young ensemble to win one of the most prestigious string quartet competitions just three years after its foundation. The Isidore Quartet won over the jury of the 14th Banff Competition in 2022. The young New York ensemble is characterised by its individual sound and extremely lively interpretations. The musicians benefit in particular from the Alexander Technique, which has an effect on the mental organisation of the concert through an expanded body awareness. It is rare to experience a young string quartet so relaxed, so deeply relaxed and at the same time so vital and mature. The young musicians present themselves to the Bonn audience with two heavyweight works by Mozart and Beethoven, complemented by a quartet by the American composer Billy Childs.

"The Phantom of the Opera" from 1925 is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name by French writer Gaston Leroux, which had been published fourteen years earlier. In the title role, Lon Chaney as a disfigured phantom causes murder and chaos at the Paris Opera. At the same time, he tries to turn the woman he loves into a star. It was only with the release of the film that the story and the character of the Phantom gained international fame. The film caused a sensation with the scene in which the Phantom removes his mask. Chaney's self-created hideous make-up was kept secret until the film's release. The film provided the basis for Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous musical.

The two cellists of Duo Cellophon, who will accompany the famous horror film live, have already performed live at the International Silent Film Festival and in 2022 at the Beethovenhaus and the Bundeskunsthalle.

In co-operation with the Förderverein Filmkultur Bonn e.V.

The young, already internationally sought-after recorder player Tabea Wink, a scholarship holder of the Studienstiftung 2023 des deutschen Volkes and the German Music Competition, has put together a varied programme based around the versatile instrument of the recorder. Accompanied sensitively on the harpsichord by Dominik Heidl, she combines baroque sounds with modern solo compositions for the various recorder instruments.

With the kind support of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes

An evening for Ludwig van Beethoven: the two Mozart Magic Flute Variations adapted by Beethoven clearly demonstrate Beethoven's youthful talent and vitality. This is followed by Shostakovich's last work, the Sonata for Viola. The composer described the first movement as a "narrative". It begins with a lonely pizzicato motif and ends with a hint of light in the darkness. Most of the material in the second movement comes from Shostakovich's unfinished opera "The Gambler", and under the unique timbre of the viola it seems even more ironic. Shostakovich called the last movement "Adagio - in memory of the great composer". He emphasised that its mood was "bright and clear". The allusions to Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" and the reminiscences of themes from the first movements show the connection between the two great composers across space and time. Shostakovich's decision to honour Beethoven in his last work shows his admiration for him." - Diyang Mei

In cooperation with the Confucius Institute Bonn

In 2019, Julius Asal and his violin partner Anna Luisa Kramb presented themselves at the Beethoven-Haus in a chamber music masterclass with Sir András Schiff. The young pianist is now a BBC Young Generation Artist and a Deutsche Grammophon (DG) shooting star. He has just released his first DG album with piano music by Domenico Scarlatti and Alexander Scriabin. His concert programmes are characterised by innovative and captivating combinations. Improvisation has been a special moment for him since his earliest childhood and is still evident in his concerts today.

In this concert, Diyang Mei, Artist in Residence, together with his excellent fellow musicians Kian Soltani and Noah Bendix-Balgley, presents three serenades in different compositional styles. Beethoven's early string trio "Serenade" is full of youthful vitality and conveys romantic feelings with marvellous melodies, moving harmonies and expressive emotions. The string trio by the Hungarian composer Rezső Kokai, one of the most important representatives of 20th century Hungarian music alongside Ernst von Dohnányi, is characterised by the rich colours and special musical language of Eastern Europe. In his string trio, Dohnanyi combines great emotion and energy with romantic and folk elements.

In co-operation with the Konfuzius-Institut Bonn
With the kind support of the Hermann J. Abs Foundation

In the traditional discussion concert on the anniversary of Beethoven's death on 26 March, the internationally renowned Bonn pianist, conductor and composer Fabian Müller, Beethoven Ring Prize winner of 2023, will explain and play his own bagatelles, which he precedes the first movements of some of Beethoven's piano sonatas.

Concert as part of the composition project '32 Bagatelles for Beethoven' by Fabian Müller.

In collaboration with the Bürgern für Beethoven e.V

The "melodrama", i.e. spoken word or recited text set to instrumental music, is already familiar from Ludwig van Beethoven, for example in the incidental music to "Egmont". Melodrama flourished as an independent art form in the 19th century - today, however, it is almost forgotten. The pianist Alexander Krichel, who is very popular at the Beethoven-Haus, and the actor Sabin Tambrea, recently seen in the cinema as Franz Kafka in the film "The Glory of Life", will perform a whole evening of short melodramas by Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Richard Strauss and the longer melodrama "Hexenkessel" by Max von Schillings, which was famous at the time.

With the kind support of the Hermann J. Abs Foundation

Postponed to Friday, 6 June 2025

Theresa Pilsl and Toni Ming Geiger began their collaboration in the Lied Academy of the Heidelberger Frühling under Thomas Hampson, where they last performed an "immensely moving song recital" (ZEIT) centred around Viktor Ullmann in 2021. In their recital at the Beethoven-Haus, they embark on a search for those fleeting moments when time seems to stand still. What art form captures these better than the art song, in which intimacy and the illumination of moments are of such central importance? Pilsl and Geiger are dedicated to pausing, being still and becoming still - and to what happens within us in these moments. Love, sadness, anger, loneliness, death and remembrance - all of these are reflected in music from the Baroque to the present day, inviting the audience to immerse themselves in a moment of resounding silence.

Postponed to 10 July 2025

Gramophone Magazine praises Elisabeth Brauss, born in Hanover in 1995 and a master student of Igor Levit, for "the maturity and refinement of her thoughtful interpretations, which would be the pride of any pianist twice her age", and recognises her as one of the most promising and versatile musicians of her generation. As a BBC New Generation Artist, she has already given numerous solo, chamber and orchestral concerts throughout the UK, won prizes at many international competitions and now performs with famous orchestras worldwide. She has developed a special programme for her debut in the Chamber Music Hall, which she will also present herself.

Venue: Chamber Music Hall Beethoven-Haus

Catch-up date of 6 April 2025

Theresa Pilsl and Toni Ming Geiger began their collaboration in the Lied Academy of the Heidelberger Frühling under Thomas Hampson, where they last performed an ‘immensely moving song recital’ (ZEIT) centred around Viktor Ullmann in 2021. In their recital at the Beethoven-Haus, they embark on a search for those fleeting moments when time seems to stand still. What art form captures these better than the art song, in which intimacy and the illumination of moments are of such central importance? Pilsl and Geiger are dedicated to pausing, being still and becoming still - and to what happens within us in these moments. Love, sadness, anger, loneliness, death and remembrance - all of these are reflected in music from the Baroque to the present day, inviting the audience to immerse themselves in a moment of resounding silence.

Catch-up date of 6 April 2025

Theresa Pilsl and Toni Ming Geiger began their collaboration in the Lied Academy of the Heidelberger Frühling under Thomas Hampson, where they last performed an ‘immensely moving song recital’ (ZEIT) centred around Viktor Ullmann in 2021. In their recital at the Beethoven-Haus, they embark on a search for those fleeting moments when time seems to stand still. What art form captures these better than the art song, in which intimacy and the illumination of moments are of such central importance? Pilsl and Geiger are dedicated to pausing, being still and becoming still - and to what happens within us in these moments. Love, sadness, anger, loneliness, death and remembrance - all of these are reflected in music from the Baroque to the present day, inviting the audience to immerse themselves in a moment of resounding silence.

Catch-up date from 17 May 2025

Joseph Moog, who repeatedly performs rarely played works and his own transcriptions in his concerts, takes his audience on a journey back in time to the golden era of piano music between 1880 and 1930. Nostalgia and elegance, beauty of sound and sensuality - all this can be found in this programme, which also focuses on masterpieces written by female composers. 'Belle Epoque' is a declaration of love to the piano and makes full use of the instrument's possibilities.

With great aplomb, uncompromising musical understanding and captivating interpretations, Tianwa Yang has quickly earned herself a place in the ranks of leading violinists. In 2022, she was awarded the OPUS Klassik as "Instrumentalist of the Year". Together with her piano partner Nicolas Rimmer, Tianwa Yang forms one of the world's outstanding chamber music duos. She is now performing in the Chamber Music Hall for the first time with a varied programme, the highlight of which is the famous Fantasy by Franz Schubert.

Catch-up date from 9 April 2025

To mark the 150th birthday of the French composer Maurice Ravel on 7 March 2025, the celebrated French pianist Alexandre Tharaud will play a programme rich in tonal colour with works by Ravel and his musical precursors Eric Satie and Paul Dukas. An evening to savour the special sound of our new Steinway grand piano!

With the kind support of the Hermann J. Abs Foundation

Gideon Klein, a native of Moravia, had just brilliantly completed his piano studies in Prague and begun studying composition when the universities were closed with the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia by Germany in 1939. Barely 20 years old, he was forced to give up his studies and compose in secret. Interned in Theresienstadt in 1941, he composed until a few days before his deportation to Auschwitz. Klein finished the string trio on 7 October 1944, nine days before his deportation to Auschwitz. The score, which he had entrusted to a friend before his journey to his death, ended up in the hands of his family after the war and was finally published in 1993.  The moving story of this central work of the concert evening and the extraordinary ensemble line-up with Pinchas Zukerman, whose parents experienced and survived the Warsaw ghetto and the Auschwitz concentration camp, make this concert a very special highlight for the Kulturtage and the Beethoven-Haus Bonn.

Catch-up date from 11 May 2025

Gramophone Magazine praises Elisabeth Brauss, born in Hanover in 1995 and a master student of Igor Levit, for "the maturity and refinement of her thoughtful interpretations, which would be the pride of any pianist twice her age", and recognises her as one of the most promising and versatile musicians of her generation. As a BBC New Generation Artist, she has already given numerous solo, chamber and orchestral concerts throughout the UK, won prizes at many international competitions and now performs with famous orchestras worldwide. She has developed a special programme for her debut in the Chamber Music Hall, which she will also present herself.

Tähe-Lee Liiv is a rising star on the Estonian piano scene. She has performed solo concerts, chamber music evenings and as a soloist with orchestras in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Italy, Germany, Israel and the USA, among others. In her solo recital, she juxtaposes works by the celebrated Estonian composer Arvo Pärt with two milestones of piano literature by Beethoven and Schubert - an exciting encounter.

Since we love nature as much as Beethoven did, we invite all visitors to participate in upcycling in our beautiful courtyard. This is how rainmakers and other musical instruments as well as insect hotels are created from items that would otherwise have ended up in the rubbish.

The 'Summer of Change' is an initiative of the Federal City of Bonn in cooperation with the Bundeskunsthalle and over 30 other partners.

Further information on the Summer of Change

"My first piano teacher was my grandmother. Every year she took me to hear András Schiff's concerts, which changed my life. A decade later, I moved to Berlin to study with him at the Barenboim-Said Akademie."

Growing up on the wooden stages of Tel Aviv's major theatres, Itamar Carmeli had early success as a child actor and as a pianist in Tel Aviv's vibrant jazz scene. These enriching experiences led him to find his own creative path in music. He has established himself as a dynamic, versatile classical soloist, chamber musician and composer. Starting with Beethoven, his programme at the Klaviersommer draws an arc to his ‘legitimate successor’ Johannes Brahms, who in turn met Ernst von Dohnanyi and greatly appreciated his music.

Since we love nature as much as Beethoven did, we invite all visitors to participate in upcycling in our beautiful courtyard. This is how rainmakers and other musical instruments as well as insect hotels are created from items that would otherwise have ended up in the rubbish.

The 'Summer of Change' is an initiative of the Federal City of Bonn in cooperation with the Bundeskunsthalle and over 30 other partners.

Further information on the Summer of Change

Since we love nature as much as Beethoven did, we invite all visitors to participate in upcycling in our beautiful courtyard. This is how rainmakers and other musical instruments as well as insect hotels are created from items that would otherwise have ended up in the rubbish.

The 'Summer of Change' is an initiative of the Federal City of Bonn in cooperation with the Bundeskunsthalle and over 30 other partners.

Further information on the Summer of Change

Since we love nature as much as Beethoven did, we invite all visitors to participate in upcycling in our beautiful courtyard. This is how rainmakers and other musical instruments as well as insect hotels are created from items that would otherwise have ended up in the rubbish.

The 'Summer of Change' is an initiative of the Federal City of Bonn in cooperation with the Bundeskunsthalle and over 30 other partners.

Further information on the Summer of Change

Since we love nature as much as Beethoven did, we invite all visitors to participate in upcycling in our beautiful courtyard. This is how rainmakers and other musical instruments as well as insect hotels are created from items that would otherwise have ended up in the rubbish.

The 'Summer of Change' is an initiative of the Federal City of Bonn in cooperation with the Bundeskunsthalle and over 30 other partners.

Further information on the Summer of Change

Combining different things and making them resonate can not only be the story of a German-Turkish duo with Iranian, Arabic and Romanian roots, but also a door opener for fulfilling musical endeavours. Gülru Ensari and Herbert Schuch are pursuing their solo careers and have repeatedly taken on special projects as a duo. The arrangements of J.S. Bach's music for two pianos by György Kúrtag are just as exciting as the realisation of Ravel's 'La Valse' and Beethoven's ‘Great Fugue’. After one of the duo's concerts, none other than Alfred Brendel commented with his inimitable humour: 'They play like siblings, and I don't mean that in a negative way'.

The two Steinway grand pianos in the Beethoven-Haus are brought to life in a particularly charming way in this concert.

Since we love nature as much as Beethoven did, we invite all visitors to participate in upcycling in our beautiful courtyard. This is how rainmakers and other musical instruments as well as insect hotels are created from items that would otherwise have ended up in the rubbish.

The 'Summer of Change' is an initiative of the Federal City of Bonn in cooperation with the Bundeskunsthalle and over 30 other partners.

Further information on the Summer of Change

Since we love nature as much as Beethoven did, we invite all visitors to participate in upcycling in our beautiful courtyard. This is how rainmakers and other musical instruments as well as insect hotels are created from items that would otherwise have ended up in the rubbish.

The 'Summer of Change' is an initiative of the Federal City of Bonn in cooperation with the Bundeskunsthalle and over 30 other partners.

Further information on the Summer of Change

Since we love nature as much as Beethoven did, we invite all visitors to participate in upcycling in our beautiful courtyard. This is how rainmakers and other musical instruments as well as insect hotels are created from items that would otherwise have ended up in the rubbish.

The 'Summer of Change' is an initiative of the Federal City of Bonn in cooperation with the Bundeskunsthalle and over 30 other partners.

Further information on the Summer of Change

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Please note the changed start time. Start at 7:00 pm instead of 6:00 pm.

Christoph Baumgarten (*2000 in Halle/Saale) studied composition in Weimar with Michael Obst and Ulrich Kreppein. He is currently studying in Leipzig with Fabien Lévy. He has received further inspiration from Malika Kishino, Gordon Kampe, Jay Schwartz and, as part of the Lucerne Festival, Unsuk Chin and Dieter Ammann. He is a scholarship holder of the German National Academic Foundation. In recent years, he has composed several works for various instrumentations, which have been performed by performers such as the MDR Symphony Orchestra, the Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra, the IEMA, the Ensemble ascolta and the Ensemble Modern.
He is expected to present a composition for trumpet, violoncello and piano.

Carlotta Rabea Joachim (*1995 Ruhrgebiet) studied violin and composition (junior studies, bachelor's, master's, masterclass) in Detmold, Essen, Lucerne and Munich with Dieter Ammann and Moritz Eggert, among others. She was a scholarship holder of the German National Academic Foundation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Her works have been performed in Europe, the USA and South America, including by the Scharoun Ensemble, the Modern Art Ensemble and the National Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Prague. She wrote her first stage work Betterplazes for the Neukölln Opera. Together with the Holst-Sinfonietta, she founded the Freiburg Composition Workshop for young people. She has led various workshops in the fields of composition and music education at the Berlin University of the Arts and the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, worked as a concert and music theatre dramaturge at the Münster Theatre and taught music education at the University of Marburg.
She is expected to present a composition for violin, percussion, piano and baritone.

In co-operation with the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes

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