This photo may not represent the actual event
This photo may not represent the actual event
Kronberg Festival 2026: Courage!
Admission
0–70€
Date & Time
Tue, Sep 22, 06:00 PM – Sun, Oct 4, 11:59 PM
Group
Tags
Organiser
KRONBERG ACADEMY STIFTUNG
About this event
The Kronberg Festival 2026 places the question of courage at its core. Across some thirty concerts and a rich supporting programme, it explores how music can tell stories of new departures, resistance and humanity. The occasion is the 150th birthday of the cellist and humanist Pablo Casals, whose uncompromising integrity continues to shape the Kronberg Academy. The opening concert spans Mozart’s dark C-minor Piano Concerto (Gabriela Montero, who also receives the Pablo Casals Award) and Kurt Weill’s rarely heard Second Symphony. Later that evening, “Irony & Illusion” pushes Debussy’s dreamy Faune prelude into Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto with Edgar Moreau and Prokofiev’s “Classical” Symphony. On 23 September the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine under Oksana Lyniv takes centre stage: in “Radiance” Johannes Moser performs Lalo’s tuneful cello concerto, followed by Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony; in “Wonders & Ways” baritone Thomas Hampson sings Mahler’s Wunderhorn songs, framed by a world premiere by Yuri Laniuk and Grieg’s Peer Gynt suites. Away from the large orchestral works, a series of more intimate evenings provides contrast: violinist Ji Young Lim and cellist István Várdai join the Korean Chamber Orchestra for “Playful”, including Waxman’s Carmen Fantasy; the late-night “Heart’s Blood” pairs Sheku Kanneh-Mason and guitarist Plínio Fernandes in Spanish and Latin American repertoire; and the chamber concert “For Casals” honours the festival’s inspiration with Bloch, Mendelssohn and Brahms alongside Casals’ own Rêverie. On 29 September “Time Leap” stretches from Bach (Avi Avital on mandolin) to the premiere of Christian Jost’s “Seasons” with cellist Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt and Kremerata Baltica. The festival closes on 4 October: “From Istanbul with Love” brings Fazıl Say and Les Essences together for Mozart’s A-major Piano Concerto and Say’s Chamber Symphony, before the “Baroque Gala – Cello Stravaganza” rounds off the fortnight with festive flair. The supporting programme invites deeper immersion. The public cello masterclasses (25–30 September) let visitors watch young talents learning from masters such as Gary Hoffman, Frans Helmerson and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt; a day ticket costs 12 euros. A workshop with Andreas Burzik tackles stage fright (25 Sep, free entry). An exhibition in the Crespo Foyer illuminates Pablo Casals’ life and work, opening one hour before and after concerts in the Great Hall. In parallel, the Kronberg Violin Making Biennale runs 29 September to 2 October at the Stadthalle, and the “Violin Makers & Bow Makers” workshop at the Receptur offers a glimpse into instrument craftsmanship. The Casals Forum itself adds to the atmosphere: the 550-seat hall, designed by Staab Architekten with wood-clad walls tuned by acoustician Martijn Vercammen, brings even the quietest musical dialogue within reach.
Schedule
Tue, Sep 22
10:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Violin Makers & Bow Makers – A Look into the Workshop
A living workshop at the Receptur offering insight into instrument and bow making, open daily 10–18 h during the festival.
Receptur, Kronberg
05:00 PM - 11:59 PM
Pablo Casals – 150th Birthday Exhibition
A display in the Crespo Foyer tracing Casals’ life and legacy, open one hour before and after concerts in the Great Hall.
Casals Forum, Crespo Foyer
06:00 PM
Fantasy & Courage (K1)
Gabriela Montero plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24, hr-Sinfonieorchester under François Leleux, and Weill’s Second Symphony. The Pablo Casals Award is presented with a laudation by Maria Furtwängler.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
08:15 PM
Irony & Illusion (K2)
Edgar Moreau plays Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto, with the hr-Sinfonieorchester, also Debussy’s Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune and Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Wed, Sep 23
04:00 PM
C like Courage (K3)
An intimate cello-and-piano recital with Ildikó Szabó and Itamar Carmeli, featuring Bach, Ligeti, Brahms and Prokofiev, dedicated to Feuermann, du Pré and Rostropovich.
Casals Forum, Carl Bechstein Saal
06:30 PM
Radiance (K4)
Johannes Moser performs Lalo’s Cello Concerto, Oksana Lyniv conducts the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, and Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony closes the programme.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
08:30 PM
Wonders & Ways (K5)
Baritone Thomas Hampson sings Mahler’s Wunderhorn songs, plus a Yuri Laniuk premiere and Grieg’s Peer Gynt suites, with Oksana Lyniv and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Thu, Sep 24
07:45 PM
Playful (K6)
Violinist Ji Young Lim and cellist István Várdai join the Korean Chamber Orchestra for a programme mixing Korean traditional melodies, Boccherini, Tchaikovsky and Waxman’s Carmen Fantasy, followed by Dvořák’s Serenade.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Fri, Sep 25
09:30 AM - 06:00 PM
Public Cello Masterclasses
Five world-class cello teachers (Ildikó Szabó, Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt) coach young talents in open lessons. A single day ticket (€12) covers all sessions on that day; free for students and under-27s.
Casals Forum & Stadthalle & Galerie Opper
02:30 PM - 04:15 PM
Workshop: On Stage, Ready, Courage!
Psychologist and violinist Andreas Burzik runs a workshop on handling stage fright, aimed at masterclass students but open to all (in English, free entry).
Casals Forum, Carl Bechstein Saal
07:45 PM
For Casals (K7)
A chamber music programme featuring Bloch’s From Jewish Life, Mendelssohn’s Second Cello Sonata, Casals’ Rêverie and Brahms’ String Quintet Op. 111, with Gary Hoffman and friends.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
10:00 PM
Heart's Blood (K8)
Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello) and Plínio Fernandes (guitar) perform sonatas by Gnattali and Brouwer, plus Spanish and Argentinean miniatures.
Casals Forum, Carl Bechstein Saal
Tue, Sep 29
10:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Kronberg Violin Making Biennale
An exhibition showcasing contemporary violin making, open 10:00–18:00 in the Stadthalle.
Stadthalle Kronberg
06:15 PM
Time Leap (K9)
Avi Avital plays Bach’s D-minor Keyboard Concerto on mandolin, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt premieres Christian Jost’s ‘Seasons’ for cello and strings, with Kremerata Baltica conducted by the composer.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Sat, Oct 3
05:00 PM
Stegreif freeEROICA (K24)
The improvisational Stegreif Orchester takes on Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ in their signature spontaneous style.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
08:15 PM
Harmonic Journeys (K25)
An evening of chamber music; details to be announced.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Sun, Oct 4
03:00 PM
From Istanbul with Love (K26)
Fazıl Say (piano) and the ensemble Les Essences led by Önder Baloglu pair Mozart’s A-major Piano Concerto K. 414 with Say’s own Chamber Symphony.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
06:30 PM
Baroque Gala – Cello Stravaganza
A festive grand finale weaving together Baroque treasures for cello and orchestra.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Tue, Sep 22
10:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Violin Makers & Bow Makers – A Look into the Workshop
A living workshop at the Receptur offering insight into instrument and bow making, open daily 10–18 h during the festival.
Receptur, Kronberg
05:00 PM - 11:59 PM
Pablo Casals – 150th Birthday Exhibition
A display in the Crespo Foyer tracing Casals’ life and legacy, open one hour before and after concerts in the Great Hall.
Casals Forum, Crespo Foyer
06:00 PM
Fantasy & Courage (K1)
Gabriela Montero plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24, hr-Sinfonieorchester under François Leleux, and Weill’s Second Symphony. The Pablo Casals Award is presented with a laudation by Maria Furtwängler.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
08:15 PM
Irony & Illusion (K2)
Edgar Moreau plays Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto, with the hr-Sinfonieorchester, also Debussy’s Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune and Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Wed, Sep 23
04:00 PM
C like Courage (K3)
An intimate cello-and-piano recital with Ildikó Szabó and Itamar Carmeli, featuring Bach, Ligeti, Brahms and Prokofiev, dedicated to Feuermann, du Pré and Rostropovich.
Casals Forum, Carl Bechstein Saal
06:30 PM
Radiance (K4)
Johannes Moser performs Lalo’s Cello Concerto, Oksana Lyniv conducts the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, and Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony closes the programme.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
08:30 PM
Wonders & Ways (K5)
Baritone Thomas Hampson sings Mahler’s Wunderhorn songs, plus a Yuri Laniuk premiere and Grieg’s Peer Gynt suites, with Oksana Lyniv and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Thu, Sep 24
07:45 PM
Playful (K6)
Violinist Ji Young Lim and cellist István Várdai join the Korean Chamber Orchestra for a programme mixing Korean traditional melodies, Boccherini, Tchaikovsky and Waxman’s Carmen Fantasy, followed by Dvořák’s Serenade.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Fri, Sep 25
09:30 AM - 06:00 PM
Public Cello Masterclasses
Five world-class cello teachers (Ildikó Szabó, Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Jens Peter Maintz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt) coach young talents in open lessons. A single day ticket (€12) covers all sessions on that day; free for students and under-27s.
Casals Forum & Stadthalle & Galerie Opper
02:30 PM - 04:15 PM
Workshop: On Stage, Ready, Courage!
Psychologist and violinist Andreas Burzik runs a workshop on handling stage fright, aimed at masterclass students but open to all (in English, free entry).
Casals Forum, Carl Bechstein Saal
07:45 PM
For Casals (K7)
A chamber music programme featuring Bloch’s From Jewish Life, Mendelssohn’s Second Cello Sonata, Casals’ Rêverie and Brahms’ String Quintet Op. 111, with Gary Hoffman and friends.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
10:00 PM
Heart's Blood (K8)
Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello) and Plínio Fernandes (guitar) perform sonatas by Gnattali and Brouwer, plus Spanish and Argentinean miniatures.
Casals Forum, Carl Bechstein Saal
Tue, Sep 29
10:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Kronberg Violin Making Biennale
An exhibition showcasing contemporary violin making, open 10:00–18:00 in the Stadthalle.
Stadthalle Kronberg
06:15 PM
Time Leap (K9)
Avi Avital plays Bach’s D-minor Keyboard Concerto on mandolin, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt premieres Christian Jost’s ‘Seasons’ for cello and strings, with Kremerata Baltica conducted by the composer.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Sat, Oct 3
05:00 PM
Stegreif freeEROICA (K24)
The improvisational Stegreif Orchester takes on Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ in their signature spontaneous style.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
08:15 PM
Harmonic Journeys (K25)
An evening of chamber music; details to be announced.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Sun, Oct 4
03:00 PM
From Istanbul with Love (K26)
Fazıl Say (piano) and the ensemble Les Essences led by Önder Baloglu pair Mozart’s A-major Piano Concerto K. 414 with Say’s own Chamber Symphony.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
06:30 PM
Baroque Gala – Cello Stravaganza
A festive grand finale weaving together Baroque treasures for cello and orchestra.
Casals Forum, Großer Saal
Location
Map data from OpenStreetMap
