The Magic of Music & Food for Thought
Great Figures and Extraordinary Encounters
July at Schloss Elmau is all about musical curiosity. Exceptional international artists open up new perspectives on classical music and jazz, engage in chamber music dialogues, and create music spontaneously in the moment. Three special concert projects invite you to hear familiar works in a new light and experience rare musical combinations in the unique atmosphere of Schloss Elmau.
Source: Julia Wesely
July 2 & 4 | Patricia Kopatchinskaja
July 2 & 4
, Patricia Kopatchinskaja: A weekend full of musical discoveries—two evenings, countless perspectives
Few female musicians challenge expectations as consistently as Patricia Kopatchinskaja. Hailed by *The Times* as “a musician of extraordinary expressive energy and disarming ease,” the internationally renowned violinist brings fresh insights, surprising perspectives, and unmistakable originality to each of her performances.
Together with pianist Joonas Ahonen, she will present two programs rich in contrast, ranging from Beethoven to 20th-century masterpieces and the unmistakable soundscape of Igor Stravinsky. In the intimate concert hall at Schloss Elmau, these performances promise two evenings of extraordinary artistic intensity.
Source: Till Eitel
July 7 | Michael Wolffsohn
July 7,
Can great art be separated from history?
For countless listeners, Herbert von Karajan’s recordings represent the absolute pinnacle of classical music. At the same time, his biography continually challenges us with a question that extends far beyond music: How should we judge artists whose achievements are inextricably linked to the political realities of their time?
In *Genius and Conscience: Herbert von Karajan Between Music and National Socialism*, Michael Wolffsohn, one of Germany’s leading contemporary historians, explores this question through extensive research and numerous newly examined sources. The result is a nuanced portrait of an artist whose life continues to challenge our understanding of artistic greatness, moral responsibility, and history.
Source: Sammy Hart
July 11 | Lisa Batiashvili, Nino Gvetadze & the Schumann Quartet
July 11,
Six world-renowned musicians in dialogue: Chausson’s unique masterpiece
Some musical encounters seem almost predestined. Lisa Batiashvili’s curiosity and her special affinity for chamber music find ideal partners in pianist Nino Gvetadze and the multi-award-winning Schumann Quartet. Together, they form an ensemble that is perfectly suited to Ernest Chausson’s extraordinary score.
At the heart of the program is Chausson’s Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet—a rarely heard masterpiece straddling the threshold between late Romanticism and Impressionism. The six outstanding musicians impressively bring out its luminous timbres, dense textures, and lively, dialogic character. In this way, one of the most original works of French chamber music can be experienced firsthand in all its expressive power.
Source: Helene Pambrun
July 14 & 16 | Baptiste Trotignon & Dan Tepfer
July 14 & 16
French jazz pianist Baptiste Trotignon: “
”—two evenings, two perspectives
Over the course of two evenings, acclaimed French jazz pianist and composer Baptiste Trotignon invites audiences to two completely different listening experiences. In his solo recital, the full expressive range of the piano unfolds: intimate, lyrical, and brimming with sonic imagination.
The second concert features American pianist Dan Tepfer. Two grand pianos face each other, and the music unfolds in real time—driven by improvisation, attentive listening, and a constant exchange of musical ideas.
Dan Tepfer, praised by The New York Times for his “masterful technique,” is the ideal partner for this. The concert offers a rare opportunity to see two outstanding jazz pianists create something unique in the moment.
Elmau Castle Concert Hall
Source: Leopold Fiala
