He is probably the most exciting representative of the current pianist scene: Hayato Sumino inspires with his phenomenal virtuosity and infectious joy of playing, his concert tours are sold out worldwide. In his unique style, Sumino combines classical technique with great talent for arrangement and improvisation, bringing a fresh and innovative approach to piano music. The 30-year-old Japanese musician is not only causing a stir with classical works. Under the name “Cateen”, he is also a YouTube star with 1.5 million subscribers with his own compositions and arrangements, and is inspiring a steadily growing online fan base for his art. Of his numerous competition successes and awards, the most recent is the Leonard Bernstein Award 2025 from the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. This program is a recording of Hayato Sumino’s concert at Suntory Hall in Tokyo. With music ranging from J.S. Bach to Hans Zimmer and from Chopin to his own compositions, the exceptional artist once again demonstrates his impressive versatility and virtuosity.
Luka Sulic – Live at Union Chapel
Don’t miss an unforgettable night of music as world-renowned cellist Luka Šulic brings his spellbinding performance to the iconic London’s Union Chapel. Set under the soft glow of candlelight, Šulic blends classical brilliance with modern emotion in a breathtaking concert experience. The cello virtuoso, known for his broad repertoire mixing crossover and classical repertoire, gifts the public a powerful renditions from his LIFE album and more.
HAUSER – Gala Concert Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Step into an extraordinary evening of music and artistry with HAUSER, the global cello phenomenon whose passionate performances have captivated millions around the world. Renowned for his unique ability to merge classical elegance with contemporary flair, HAUSER invites you on an unforgettable musical journey that transcends boundaries and speaks directly to the heart. With every note, his masterful cello playing unveils new realms of emotion, beauty, and intensity, creating an experience unlike any other. Sharing the stage with HAUSER are an array of world-class guest artists. Violin virtuoso Caroline Campbell will dazzle with her precision and fiery interpretations, while celebrated vocalists Aida Garifullina and Lara Fabian bring soaring vocals that blend seamlessly with the orchestral grandeur. Enhancing the evening is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Robert Ziegler, whose artistry ensures a rich and powerful musical landscape, recorded at Royal Albert Hall.
Emerging from the Shadows – The Legacies of Weinberg and Korngold
This documentary uncovers the poignant stories of Mieczyslaw Weinberg and Erich Wolfgang Korngold: two 20th-century composers of profound artistry, whose legacy is only recently being rediscovered after having been overshadowed in the aftermath of the Holocaust. The documentary follows the album recording of Constantine Orbelian, chief conductor of the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, and cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper. In recording lesser-known cello concertos by Weinberg and Korngold, Cooper and Orbelian hope to facilitate the transcendence of the two composers’ legacy — out of the shadows and towards the recognition their music deserves. Narrated by Cooper and Orbelian, we delve into the history of Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s and Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s contrasting yet intertwining lives. The composers’ life-stories are paralleled by visuals of Kaunas’ own historic landmarks, commemorating the history of the city’s estimated 37.000 Jewish inhabitants before the Shoah. Always returning to the recording sessions of the beautiful cello concertos, viewers are drawn into a compelling story of cultural identity and rediscovery.
Elina Garanca: My Favourite Melodies
In this upcoming episode of the series “My Favourite Melodies,” viewers are treated to an intimate portrait of renowned opera star Elina Garanca. From classic opera arias to lesser-known gems, Garanca’s selections offer a glimpse into her artistic influences and passions. The program combines stunning performances with insightful interviews, providing a captivating experience for both seasoned opera aficionados and newcomers to the genre.
Jonathan Tetelman & Chelsea Zurflüh at Neuschwanstein Castle
The Neuschwanstein Castle Festival kicks off with a passionate journey through the world of opera: the high-calibre chamber music ensemble CHAARTS Chamber Artists from Switzerland already wowed audiences in multiple occasions. Together with Jonathan Tetelman and Chelsea Zurflüh, they present works from Tosca, La Traviata, Romeo et Juliette and The Magic Flute, among others. The timbre, the extraordinary volume of his tenor voice and his charisma can now be marvelled at on the world’s biggest stages. “A star par excellence”, wrote the New York Times about Tetelman, while the Tagesspiegel added ist unanimously enthusiastic review of his international audience with “balsamic verve”.
Lang Lang in Paris
“Hats off, gentlemen, a genius!” Schumann’s famous words heralding Frédéric Chopin have gone down in history, and the two composers jointly launched a revolution in piano music in the early Romantic era. And works by both men are at the centre of Lang Lang’s recital from the Philharmonie de Paris: Schumann’s fantastical Kreisleriana, and mazurkas and a polonaise by Chopin, in which he distilled the spirit of Poland into music at once haunting, deeply moving and – in the case of the Polonaise – thrillingly rousing. Opening with the original piano version of Fauré’s beautiful Pavane, this programme promises to be a superb showcase of Lang Lang’s passion, virtuosity and sensitivity. PROGRAM Fauré: Pavane; Schumann: Kreisleriana; Chopin: Mazurkas; Polonaise in F-sharp minor
RCO: Kerstmatinee 2025
The Christmas Matinee turns fifty this year! Klaus Mäkelä conducts an enjoyable concert full of twilight tints, nocturnal whispers and tales from distant lands. Experience the fabulous stories from the One Thousand and One Nights in Rimsky-Korsakov’s sultry Sheherazade , the solo violin running through the work like a golden thread. Less well-known but just as compelling is the symphonic poem Lydische nacht by Alphons Diepenbrock, who is considered the most important Dutch composer of the late-Romantic period. Who wouldn’t feel for a shepherd all alone in the darkness with his turbulent inner world and the cool, impassive moon…
Sheku Kanneh-Mason: My Favourite Melodies
Acclaimed cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason invites audiences into an intimate musical journey where he both performs and reflects on the melodies that have shaped his artistic voice and life story. The documentary episode, part of the succesfull series “My Favourite Melodies” blends live performance and videoclips, thoughtful conversation, and behind-the-scenes insights into the creative process.
RCO: Järvi conducts Khachaturian & Stravinsky
The Estonian conductor Paavo Järvi is in his element with repertoire from Northern and Eastern Europe, and this programme features three such works. Vesper (Poem) by his compatriot Ester Mägi, ‘the first lady of Estonian music’, is a poetic work for strings inspired by St John’s Church in Tallinn. The Khachaturian Piano Concerto is proof that colourful, vibrant music was indeed written in the Soviet era. The work is imbued with the influence of Armenian folk music. And to add to the exotic atmosphere, the piano is accompanied by a musical saw in the middle movement! The work is grist to Jean-Yves Thibaudet’s mill, a pianist who for decades has excelled in original repertoire. Finally, there’s Petrushka, Stravinsky’s exuberant ballet music about a marionette who comes to life, falls in love and wreaks havoc on a Russian carnival. Listeners need no sets or dancers to see the story unfold before them, and the colourful music lets all the members of the orchestra shine. PROGRAM Mägi: Vesper; Khatchatourian: Piano Concerto; Stravinsky: Petrushka