Come and hear!

Five artistic personalities – five perspectives, five approaches, five paths to music.

Where is the spark that sets everything alight? It is found where great artists inspire young talents and pass on their knowledge and experience. Every two years, Kronberg Academy invites cello students from around the world to the “World Capital of the Cello” (Mstislav Rostropovich). Over the course of almost a week, they receive valuable inspiration and guidance from five distinguished teachers in public masterclasses. This year, we are delighted to welcome Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.

For interested visitors, the public masterclasses offer a unique opportunity to explore even the most hidden corners of the cello repertoire.

Day ticket for the public masterclasses: €12
Valid for all masterclasses on one day; free admission for young people and students under the age of 27.

The detailed class schedule will be announced at short notice.

Venues: Casals Forum, Stadthalle, Galerie Opper

Programme subject to change.

Dr.-Ing. Thomas Zwieg, Chief Developer at the string manufacturer Larsen Strings A/S, offers insights into the interaction between instrument, strings, bow and bowing technique — and into what musicians can do themselves to influence the response, articulation, volume and timbre of their string instrument.

The lecture will be held in English and is intended for participants in the Cello Masterclasses as well as interested visitors.

Subject to change.

Excerpts from:

Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob. VIIb 1 and No. 2 in D major, Hob. VIIb 2

Luigi Boccherini (1743–1805)
Concerto No. 3 in G major, G 476

Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Max Bruch (1838–1920)
Kol Nidrei in D minor, Op. 47

Prizewinners’ Concert of the Cello Masterclasses

Subject to change

Final Concert of the Cello Masterclasses

The programme will be announced at a later date.

Subject to change

David Geringas (*1946)
Excerpts from “Sag das niemandem: Lebenserinnerungen eines Cellisten”

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Widmung No. 1, Op. 25

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Minnelied No. 5, Op. 71

François Couperin (1668–1733)
Pièces en concert arranged for three violoncellos by David Geringas

Kronberg Academy honours the great cellist and pedagogue on his milestone birthday with a special event featuring music and recitation.

Subject to change

Between Conservation and the Concert Hall – Pernambuco Bows under New CITES Regulations

Pernambuco (*Paubrasilia echinata*) is a critically endangered tree species from Brazil. Its wood is prized for its stability, flexibility, and low weight, making it the primary material for crafting bows for string instruments.

Stricter CITES regulations for Pernambuco wood—which came into effect on March 5, 2026, following the most recent Conference of the Parties—have introduced new rules governing international trade and sales within the EU. However, the species' protection status remains unchanged; it has been under special protection since 2007. This presentation examines the implications for bow makers, musicians, the trade sector, and international travel. It focuses on the practical consequences regarding documentation, ownership, and transfer, as well as how species conservation can be reconciled with the responsible preservation of the art of bow making.

Master bow maker Thomas M. Gerbeth, who lives in his adopted home of Vienna, is committed to the conservation and sustainable future of Pernambuco. Through the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative, he brings together species conservation, traditional bow making, and scientific research. His work focuses on projects in Brazil that promote the preservation, reforestation, and responsible use of this essential tree species for bow making.

The lecture will be held in German. Mr Gerbeth’s presentation (new CITES regulations) will be supplemented with English-language headings and brief explanatory notes, enabling English-speaking participants to follow the key content easily.

Subject change.

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847)
Overture, Op. 26 “The Hebrides”

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Subject to change

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129

Programme subject to change

To this day, cellist Pablo Casals stands for artistic truthfulness, moral integrity and civil courage.

How important is civil courage — also for artists? Sir András Schiff reflects on this question with publicist Paul Lendvai and young soloists from Kronberg Academy.

Subject to change.