Benjamin von Stuckrad-Barres ist mit seinem Bestseller aus dem letzten Jahr erneut auf Lesereise und zum ersten Mal in Schloss Elmau zu erleben. Literarisch brillant, humorvoll und kompromisslos erzählt sein Roman „Noch wach?“ die Geschichte von Sophia, die hoffnungsfroh in ihrem neuen Job bei einem großen deutschen Fernsehsender gestartet ist, mächtig unterstützt von ihrem neuen Chef. „Es ist ein Lehrstück über Moral und Macht“, so Volker Wiedermann in der ZEIT.

Der Hanser-Verleger stellt seinen neuen Roman über die Flugpionierin Amelia Earhart vor. Es ist der 2. Juli 1937, in ihrer Lockheed Electra fliegt Amelia Earhart hoch über dem Ozean. Die Schatten der Wolken sehen aus wie Inseln. Sie steht kurz davor, als erster Mensch die Welt zu umrunden. Dies ist die schwerste Etappe. „Die Himmelsrichtungen“ ist eine Liebesgeschichte mit wechselnden Beteiligten – manche erstaunlich, andere flüchtig wie Wolken. Und es ist ein Roman über die Erinnerung und wie sie sich allmählich entblättert. Jede Schicht zeigt die Vergangenheit in einem neuen Licht. Wie soll man diese Geschichte anders erzählen als rückwärts? Amelia weiß noch nicht, dass es der letzte Tag ihres Lebens ist.

Waltz dancing in the concert hall of Schloss Elmau is back
For decades, the pianist Otto Ludwig characterised dancing to piano music in Elmau. Now we are reviving this famous Elmau tradition – the renowned pianist Julien Quentin will be playing waltzes from Chopin to Tchaikovsky in the Great Hall. All levels of dancers are welcome, it's all about the joy of waltzing. In addition to the dance floor, there are also seating areas where you can take a break and simply enjoy the music and atmosphere.
Duration: 20:00 – 21:30 incl. intermission

Grammy-nominated mandolinist Avi Avital is known for his “explosively charismatic” performances (New York Times). He is the driving force behind the revival of the mandolin: He has been playing in the world's most prestigious concert halls for more than two decades. Now he joins the American string quartet Brooklyn Rider, known for eclectic repertoire and stirring performances – acclaimed by critics and audiences from all genres. National Public Radio (NPR) credits Brooklyn Rider with “recreating the 300-year-old genre of the string quartet as a vibrant, creative ensemble for the 21st century”.

The trumpet of 25-year-old French musician Lucienne Renaudin Vary sounds young and fresh. She won the Opus Klassik award for best young musician in 2021 and is one of the rising stars of the classical music scene. At her debut at Schloss Elmau, she will present her new programme “Jazz meets classical music”, in which she and pianist and arranger Tim Allhoff, himself an Echo award winner, will also shed light on their second musical home – jazz.

The unique character of music played live is a crucial aspect of understanding the expressive beauty and compelling honesty of Grigory Sokolov's art. His poetic interpretations, which come alive with mystical intensity in the concert hall, are based on an in-depth knowledge of the repertoire. His programmes span the entire history of music: from transcriptions of sacred polyphony of the Middle Ages and works by Couperin, Rameau and Bach, to the Classical and Romantic repertoire and key compositions of the 20th century. Now Grigory Sokolov returns to Schloss Elmau – with what is sure to be a compelling and impressive concert evening.

Rakhi Singh and her sister Simmy, two of the most innovative violinists of our time, are guests in Elmau. Born in rural Wales to an Indian father and an English mother, they are influenced by different cultures and traditions, which also flow into their music. Rakhi is the founder and artistic director of the Manchester Collective, one of the most interesting ensembles around - experimenting with new music and musical forms. She works with artists such as Steve Reich, Hiromi, Phillip Glass, Björk and Abel Selaocoe.

Dutch duo Lucas & Artur Jussen are among the most sought-after piano duos of our time and are a breath of fresh air in the world's biggest concert halls. With their energetic, almost symbiotic playing, their great refinement of sound and their gripping interpretations, they are celebrated by press and audience alike. “It's like driving two BMWs at the same time,” said conductor Michael Schønwandt about the two pianists after a joint concert.

Two world-class string quartets: the Quatuor Ébène and the Belcea Quartet are among the best string quartets ever. For this concert, they unite to form an octet and interpret two of the great works for this instrumentation – Mendelssohn's youthful work full of luminous melodic ideas and the darkly glowing, dense work by the nineteen-year-old Romanian Enescu.