A spring festival of chamber music
Seniors & Juniors
A spring festival of chamber music that expresses what drives the Kronberg Academy: the joy of making music together and the power to touch people with music. For ten days, public rehearsals and concerts, full of energy and poetry, allow audiences to experience these musical encounters.
Aus der Tiefe wächst Licht
Participants
- Gidon Kremer violin
- Antje Weithaas violin
- Steven Isserlis cello
- Juniors
Programme
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
Miniatures for Two Violins and Viola in G minor, op. 75a
Vítězslav Novák (1870–1949)
Piano Quintet in A minor, op. 12
Intermission
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
String Quartet in A minor, op. 132
Concert introduction at 6.15 pm in the Great Hall
Subject to change.
Blüten der Erinnerung
Participants
- Gidon Kremer violin
- Antje Weithaas violin
- Tabea Zimmermann viola
Programme
Kristaps Pētersons (1982– )
“De profundis” in memory of Alexei Navalny
Victor Kissine (1953– )
Hommage à Alfred Schnittke
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
String Quintet in F major, op. 88
Intermission
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809–1847)
Octet in E flat major, op. 20
Concert introduction at 5.15 p.m. in the Great Hall
Subject to change.
Passion
Participants
- Gidon Kremer violin
Programme
Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
"The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross" for string quartet Hob. XX/1:B
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)
String Quartet no. 8 in C minor op. 110
Concert introduction at 6.45 p.m. in the Great Hall
Subject to change.
Muss es sein?
Participants
- Richard Goode piano
- Tabea Zimmermann viola
Programme
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Trio in E flat major no. 2, op. 70
Intermission
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
3rd movement from String Quartet in F major, op. 135
Béla Bartók (1881–1945)
String Quartet no. 6
Concert introduction with Dr Norbert Gertsch (G. Henle Verlag) and Tabea Zimmermann
at 6.45 p.m. in the Great Hall
Subject to change.
Verwandlungen
Participants
- Christian Tetzlaff violin
- Gary Hoffman cello
- Richard Goode piano
Programme
Anton Webern (1883–1945)
5 Movements for String Quartet, op. 5
Antonín Dvorák (1841–1904)
String Sextet in A major, op. 48
Intermission
Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924)
Piano Quartet No. 2 in G minor, op. 45
Concert introduction at 6.45 p.m. in the Great Hall
Subject to change.
Glühende Saiten
Programme
Sergei Taneyev (1856–1915)
Piano Quintet in G minor, op. 30
Intermission
Peter Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Serenade for Strings in C major, op. 48
Concert introduction at 6.45 p.m. in the Great Hall
Subject to change.
Innere Gärten
Participants
- Gary Hoffman cello
- Steven Isserlis cello
- Richard Goode piano
Programme
Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Quartet Movement in C minor, D 703
Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924)
String Quartet in E minor, op. 121
Intermission
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Piano Trio no. 2 in C major, op. 87
Concert introduction at 6.15 p.m. in the Great Hall
Subject to change.
Im Zeichen der Freundschaft
Participants
- Christian Tetzlaff violin
- Gary Hoffman cello
- Steven Isserlis cello
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
String Quintet in D major, K. 593
Alexander Borodin (1833–1887)
String Quartet no. 2 in D major
Intermission
Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Piano Quintet in E-flat major, op. 44
Concert introduction at 5.15 p.m. in the Great Hall
The concert is part of „Ein Tag für die Musik“ / Musikland Hessen
Subject to change.
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![[Translate to English:] Das Bild zeigt ein Porträt von Tabea Zimmermann.](/fileadmin/_processed_/d/7/csm_2015_Zimmermann_-Tabea-_c_-_f156d73a10.webp "[Translate to English:] Porträtfoto Tabea Zimmermann")
A unique project known as Chamber Music Connects the World takes place in Kronberg (Germany) once every two years. It is next scheduled from 8 – 17 May 2026.
Here, outstanding young musicians (Juniors) join forces with world-famous artists (Seniors) to spend ten days making chamber music together. An intensive period of rehearsals in ensembles made up of different players is followed by several concerts. The gap between the different generations of musicians is thus bridged and ideas can flow freely in both directions.
Established in cooperation with the Crespo Foundation.
Young violinists, viola players and cellists who were BORN IN OR AFTER 1998 can apply to participate. Participants who are selected have to be available during the whole period of the project, for daily rehearsals and/or concerts.
Applications must be submitted online by 23rd NOVEMBER 2025 (18:00) at the latest. Please add following documents to your application:
- Recommendation/reference from an established, well-known artist
- (Artistic) curriculum vitae with a photograph (minimum size: 1000 x 1500 px, 300 dpi)
- Statement explaining why you want to take part in “Chamber Music Connects the World”
- Recent uncut video recording on YouTube: please add link(s) to video recordings of the repertoire as requested below-
- A piano accompaniment is required for all video recordings. The video recordings can also be made with orchestra.
- Please upload two separate videos (one link per work). The videos should date from less than a year ago.
VIOLIN
1. Classical sonata (all movements)
(preferably one of the following sonatas: Mozart B flat major KV 378, Mozart E flat major KV 380, Mozart B flat major KV 454, Mozart A major KV 526 or a Beethoven Sonata, Schubert Fantasy in C major D 934 or Schubert Sonata in A major D 574) AND
2. violin concerto from the 19th or 20th century (at least first movement)
VIOLA
1. Schumann Marchenbilder or a Brahms sonata or Schubert Arpeggione Sonata (all movements) AND
2. Stamitz Concerto in D major or Hoffmeister Concerto in D major (at least first and second movement)
CELLO
1. Classical sonata (all movements)(preferably a Beethoven sonata, Beethoven variations or Schubert Arpeggione Sonata)AND
2. Cello concerto by Dvořak, Elgar, Lalo, Prokofiev, Schumann or Shostakovich, or similar (at least first movement)
Applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of the recordings and documentation submitted. Therefore, please ensure that your recording is both musically and technically of high quality.
Only a small number of applicants will be shortlisted and then invited to take part in live auditions. The auditions serve primarily as an opportunity for Kronberg Academy to get to know the ca. 25 shortlisted applicants and their chamber music capabilities.
Applicants who are invited to the auditions will be contacted by 19 December 2025 at the latest.
The audition will be held in Kronberg, Germany on 27th and 28th January 2026. The members of the jury will be Gidon Kremer, Raimund Trenkler (Founder and Chairman of the Board of Kronberg Academy) and Friedemann Eichhorn (Director of the Kronberg Academy Study Programmes).
In the audition, applicants will be asked to play chamber music works with members of the Aris Quartet (without a prior rehearsal). Information about the works to be played will be sent with the invitation to the audition.
Rehearsal phase
The ensembles follow a fixed programme of rehearsals, which should give each Junior the opportunity to play in ensembles with at least two Seniors.
Concerts
Chamber Music Connects the World will culminate in eight concerts at the big hall of the Casals Forum, in which all ensembles will perform.
