From 2015 to 2021, the Ukrainian city of Odessa on the Black Sea hosted the international music festival “Odessa Classics”. Since the war, the festival has taken place at various locations in Europe under the direction of Ukraine's most renowned pianist, Alexey Botvinov – and this year, they are giving a guest performance at Schloss Elmau.
A number of important musicians and intellectuals have been invited, including Grigory Sokolov, Mischa Maisky, the young Ukrainian pianist Dinara Klinton, and the writer Mikhail Shishkin.
Programme:
Saturday, 7 Jun, 2025
Opening concert Grigory Sokolov piano
Why you must attend this concert:
“Among all the pianists who have existed and still exist, Grigory Sokolov is in a category of his own.” (Jan Brachmann, FAZ)
- Byrd: John come kiss me now FVB 10 | Pavane & Galliarde FVB 167 | Fantasia
- FVB 8 | Alman FVB 163 | The Earl of Salisbury – Pavane & Galliarde No 1 & 2
- T 503 | Callino casturame FVB 158
- INTERVAL
- Brahms: 4 Ballades Op10 | 2 Rhapsodies Op 79
Sunday, 8 Jun, 2025
Dinara Klinton Klavier
Why you must attend this concert:
The Ukrainian pianist was included in International Piano Magazine's selection of the “most exciting and best pianists under 30“
- Liszt: Après une Lecture du Dante – Fantasia quasi sonata
- Levko Revutsky: Song Op 17 No 1
- Victor Kosenko: Étude C sharp minor
- Chopin: Piano sonata No 2 B flat major
- et al.
Tuesday, 10 Jun, 2025
“My Pushkin“, A literary-musical project, Mikhail Schischkin texts, Alexey Botvinov piano
Why you must attend this event:
The writer Shishkin, who has been translated into all the world's languages, is one of the most outspoken critics of current Russian politics
Text by Mikhail Shishkin about Pushkin's life and the parallels to modern Russia
with piano music from Tchaikovsky's “Seasons” and Rachmaninov's “Études-Tableaux”
in German
Wednesday, 11 Jun, 2025
Sebastian Bohren violin, Alexey Botvinov piano
Why you must attend this concert:
Pianist Alexey Botvinov received his country's highest honour as “People's Artist of Ukraine“. Now he is joined by violinist Sebastian Bohren, who has been praised for his “bravura“ (Sunday Times).
- Mozart: Violin sonata E minor K.304
- Silvestrov: Melodies of the Moments for piano and violin
- Prokofiev: Violin sonata F minor Op 80
Thursday, 12 Jun, 2025
Sascha Maisky & Alissa Margulis violine, Mischa Maisky cello, Lily Maisky, Maximilian Maisky & Alexey Botvinov piano
Why you must attend this concert:
The musicians around cellist of the century Mischa Maisky perform works by Brahms and others in changing line-ups
- Beethoven: Violin sonata No 4 A minor
- Brahms: Piano trio No 1 B major et al.
Friday, 13 Jun, 2025
Sascha Maisky & Alissa Margulis violin, Mischa Maisky cello, Lily Maisky & Alexey Botvinov piano
Why you must attend this concert:
The musicians around cellist of the century Mischa Maisky perform works by Brahms and others in changing line-ups
- Dvorák: Sonatina G major for violin and piano
- Brahms: Hungarian Dances (selection)
- Schumann: Lieder from “Dichterliebe” for cello and piano et al.
