Opening of our "Tribute to Elisabeth Leonskaja" on February 23 & 24 with the Konzerthausorchester, chief conductor Joana Mallwitz and music from Bohemia, Norway and Hungary! 

Elisabeth Leonskaja took her place at the piano for Grieg's only piano concerto, which was inspired by Clara Schumann's skills, and was celebrated with enormous applause. The atmosphere in the Great Hall was generally joyful and festive, as Dvořák's "Midday Witch", inspired by Bohemian folklore, and Zoltán Kodály's rousing, colourfully orchestrated "Dances from Galánta" and Hary-Janós Suite also delighted the audience in the sold-out hall.

Beethoven's last three piano sonatas with their special aura are regarded as his testament. Elisabeth Leonskaja played them in her recital on 25 February. For one critic, her finale of Opus 111 was already an "ascent into musical nirvana", music-making "that makes the world a better place". This is a hope that we wholeheartedly endorse after this concert!

Being a highly sensitive and inspiring teacher, Elisabeth Leonskaja also gave a wonderful master class at the Konzerthaus for four selected students of the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler on February 26. Treat yourself to the stream!

Elisabeth Leonskaja and the Second Viennese School: Schönberg, Berg and Webern were on the programme on February 28. The pianist also played Strauss' rarely heard melodrama "Enoch Arden" with a favourite partner: "Encounters with 'word people' - actors, directors - are stimulating for me. For a few years now, I've had a wonderful friendship with Corinna Kirchhoff, an actress who is a great actress and special person and also an admirable music connoisseur."

Chamber music is both a necessity and a pleasure for Elisabeth Leonskaja. Our 1st concertmaster Sayako Kusaka, concertmaster Johannes Jahnel, principal viola Amalia Aubert and cellist Felix Nickel see it the same way. Therefore, on February 29, the pianist joined the Konzerthaus Quartett for a fine interpretation of Robert Schumann's Piano Quintet.

"Music has always been my life," Elisabeth Leonskaja summarises, "over the course of time it  has grown in weight and depth and has become a sacred obligation to life itself, which has given me this gift."  

The title of Dag Freyer's film portrait commissioned by the Konzerthaus, "Elisabeth Leonskaja – Giving myself through music", is to be understood in this sense. The film premiered on February 27  in the presence of the artist, followed by a discussion with general director Sebastian Nordmann. You can also watch the film here.

On the first evening the first, on the second evening the second piano concerto by Johannes Brahms: at the final concerts with the Konzerthausorchester under Michael Sanderling on March 2 & 3, Elisabeth Leonskaja enthralled the sold-out hall twice with two of the greatest piano concertos of all. The Konzerthausorchester bid the pianist a wistful farewell with Schumann's Fourth in D minor.