Christian Zacharias

“Christian Zacharias conducted without a baton, but his gestures – painting with arms, hands and fingers – was so inspiring, structuring the wonderful music that was created.”

Christian Zacharias is a narrator among the conductors and pianists of his generation. In each of his elaborate, detailed and clearly articulated interpretations, it’s clear what he means: Zacharias is interested in what lies behind the notes.

With a unique combination of integrity and individuality, brilliant linguistic expressiveness, deep musical understanding, and a sure artistic instinct, paired with his charismatic and engaging artistic personality, Christian Zacharias has established himself not only as a world-class pianist and conductor, but also as a musical thinker. Numerous acclaimed concerts with the world’s best orchestras and outstanding conductors as well as multiple honors and recordings characterize his international career.

Since 2020, Christian Zacharias holds the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the Sinfonica Do Porto Casa da Musica, and since 2021/2002 of the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada. Also, since 2021/2022 he is Associate Conductor of the Orchestre National d’Auvergne. In 2020, Zacharias was also appointed Honorary Conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra Bucharest. In general, the Classical-Romantic repertoire, especially Schumann, Brahms, Bruckner, Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven, forms an important musical focus for him. He was re-invited to, among others, the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, the Orchestre National du Toulouse, the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra as well as the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo. Christian Zacharias likes to complement his programs with more modern works, e.g. by Schönberg, Britten or Bacewicz. Zacharias’ longtime musical partners include the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Basel Chamber Orchestra, Berlin Konzerthausorchester and the Bamberger Symphoniker, the Stuttgart Philharmonic and the Orchestre Nationale de Lyon.

Before devoting himself to other focal points of his career, Christian Zacharias will be playing more piano recitals in the 2022/23 season in the major cities of Europe, including Paris, London, Madrid, Istanbul and at the Schubertiade and Piano aux Jacobins in Toulouse.

In addition to recitals, Zacharias offers his audience impressive musical insights in piano lectures on topics such as Why does Schubert sound like Schubert or Haydn, A Creation from Nothing?

A particular fondness of opera has led to him directing productions of Mozart’s La Clemenza the Tito and The Marriage of Figaro, as well as Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène. The production of Nicolai’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, which he conducted at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie in Liège, was awarded the Prix de l’Europe Francophone 2014 by the Association Professionnelle de la Critique Théâtre, Musique et Danse in Paris.

Since 1990, the following films have been produced featuring Christian Zacharias: Domenico Scarlatti in Seville, Robert Schumann – the Poet Speaks (both for INA, Paris), Zwischen Bühne und Künstlerzimmer (for WDR-arte), De B comme Beethoven à Z comme Zacharias (for RTS, Switzerland) and the complete Beethoven piano concertos (for SSR-arte).

The musical work of Zacharias has been honored many times, for example with the Midem Classical Award Artist of the Year 2007, the honorable award Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of the French state and a tribute from Romania for his services to culture. In addition, he was appointed a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 2016, and in 2017 received an honorary doctorate from the University of Gothenburg.

Numerous internationally acclaimed recordings were made during his time as Principal Conductor of the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra. Particularly noteworthy are the recordings of the complete Mozart piano concertos – awarded the Diapason d’Or de l’Année, Choc du Monde de la Musique and ECHO Klassik – and all Schumann symphonies.

From 2015-2021, Christian Zacharias was chairman of the jury of the Clara Haskil Competition, and in 2018 president of the jury of the Geza Anda Competition where he also conducted the final concert.

Season 2022/2023 | Photo: Constanze Zacharias | Quote: Süddeutsche Zeitung, October 22 2017.
Amendments or edits need the consent of Künstlersekretariat Astrid Schoerke GmbH

Christian Zacharias in France and more

1 March 2023

While Spring has not sprung in Germany yet, Christian Zacharias is travelling to warmer climes, before coming back here at the end of April to present programs of […] more ...

Christian Zacharias on Recital Tour

30 January 2023

Christian Zacharias will spend the next two weeks travelling through six countries to give a concert each. This week, he will start by visiting Porto, Lyon and Padua […] more ...

Christian Zacharias in Romania and Switzerland

12 January 2023

Tonight, Christian Zacharias will play the first of two concerts in Bucharest. Together with the George Enescu Philharmonic Bucharest, he will present a program consisting of Ravel’s Ma […] more ...

Orchestral Autumn with Christian Zacharias

14 November 2022

Christian Zacharias is spending the upcoming autumn days with three different orchestras: This week, him and the Philharmonic Orchestra Heidelberg will present two concerts with programs of Grażyna […] more ...

CD Release: Christian Zacharias recorded Hadyn Sonaten

12 October 2022

Christian Zacharias released a new CD on the MDG label: A selection of Haydn sonatas that is as diverse in style as the performing artist himself. Zacharias uses […] more ...

Christian Zacharias and the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música

22 September 2022

This autumn, Christian Zacharias will be spending several weeks with the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música in his function as principal guest conductor. At the moment, […] more ...

From Alicante to Zaragoza – Recitals with Zacharias

22 August 2022

Christian Zacharias fortunately already has had time for his summer holiday because the upcoming weeks will be busy ones. He will present his current recital program, which consists […] more ...

Christian Zacharias touring France

15 August 2022

This week Christian Zacharias is on his first joint tour through France together with the Orchestre National d’Auvergne, where he is Assosciate Conductor. They will visit the Festival […] more ...

Iberian Weeks with Christian Zacharias

11 May 2022

Christian Zacharias will spend the next few weeks on road on the Iberian Peninsula, among that in his capacity as principal guest conductor with two orchestras based there. […] more ...

Christian Zacharias‘ Journey to Sweden

7 March 2022

Christian Zacharias will spend the next weeks in Sweden with two different orchestras. This week he is in Gävle to present a program of Milhaud, Poulenc and Mozart […] more ...

Christian Zacharias in Lausanne

15 November 2021

To finish off a busy autumn, that brought Christian Zacharias not only to Portugal, Spain and France, he will spend this week in Lausanne. There, he will play/conduct […] more ...

Porto, Bilbao, Lyon – Anyway, Zacharias

28 September 2021

Christian Zacharias will finally take his post as Principal Guest Conductor of the Orquesta Sinfonica Do Porto Casa da Musica this week, due to pandemic delays. On Friday, […] more ...

Recitals with Christian Zacharias

8 June 2021

Christian Zacharias is starting his first recital tour since 2019. With programs containing pieces by Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert and Bach he will visit Monaco, Granada, Madrid and Paris. […] more ...

Zacharias and Steger in Spain

19 April 2021

This week Maurice Steger and Christian Zacharias will be in Madrid one after the other. Tonight the latter will be playing with and conducting the Orquesta y Coro […] more ...

Christian Zacharias Part of New Artistic Team in Auvergne

1 April 2021

From June 2021 on Christian Zacharias will be a part of the new artistic team at the Orchestre National d’Auvergne. As a regular guest of the orchestra he […] more ...

Christian Zacharias becomes Honorary Director of George Enescu Philharmonie Bucharest

29 April 2020

Starting with season 20/21 Christian Zacharias will be Honorary Director of George Enescu Philharmonie Bucharest as the Philharmonie announced this week. Christian Zacharias thanked this honor by saying: […] more ...

4 Countries, 4 Orchestras, 1 Christian Zacharias

27 February 2020

Christian Zacharias is looking towards a busy March: This weekend he will start with concerts with the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker in, amongst others, the Prinzregententheater in Munich. Next he […] more ...

Christian Zacharias in Winterthur

28 January 2020

Christian Zacharias is spending the week in Winterthur to prepare two concerts with the Musikkollegium as a conductor and pianist. Wednesday and thursday they will perform Dvorak’s “Legends” […] more ...

Christian Zacharias in Boston, Bergen and Poznań

28 November 2019

At the end of the year Christian Zacharias is going to perform in three different countries together with three different orchestras three fantastic programs as both conductor and […] more ...

Christian Zacharias: recitals in autumn

7 October 2019

This autumn Christian Zacharias can be heard with recitals at Historische Stadthalle in Wuppertal, Erholungshaus Leverkusen, at the Clayton State University in Morrow, GA and at Pierre Boulez […] more ...

Christian Zacharias: Traveling Europe with Haydn and Bach

12 August 2019

Christian Zacharias is travelling Europe for recitals with programs around Haydn and Johann Sebastian Bach. Today he will start his journey at the piano festival in La Roque […] more ...

Christian Zacharias’ Recital Tour

13 June 2019

Christian Zacharias will be travelling from Switzerland across France to Spain for several recitals in the upcoming weeks. Tomorrow he will start at the Lavaux Classic Festival with […] more ...

Christian Zacharias performs in Bremen, Leipzig and Jena

25 April 2019

Christian Zacharias will perform extraordinary and differentiated programs in Bremen, Leipzig and Jena in the upcoming weeks. Firstly, he will conduct the Bremen Philharmonic and soprano Elizabeth Watts […] more ...

Christian Zacharias in Spain

22 March 2019

After Christian Zacharias started the year with concerts in France, Italy, England and Scotland he is now venturing on once again to Spain: On March 25th he will […] more ...

Christian Zacharias worldwide

4 February 2019

In the next weeks Christian Zacharias can be heard at concerts worldwide. He starts on the 8th and 9th of February in Toulouse and Tournefeuille, continues from 01st […] more ...

Christian Zacharias on the podium in Hamburg, Moscow, Lyon and London

14 September 2018

In the coming weeks, Christian Zacharias is traveling internationally. On September 16th and 17th in the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, and again in the Friedrich-Ebert-Halle on September 18th, he conducts […] more ...

Christian Zacharias visiting the USA and Spain

2 August 2018

On August 3rd and 4th Christian Zacharias is travelling to New York. Together with the festival orchestra of the Mostly Mozart Festival he will present a Mozart program […] more ...

Christian Zacharias’ musical expertise requested

1 June 2018

From June 3-12th, Christian Zacharias will take over the honorary role of president of the jury at the renowned Géza Anda Piano Competition in Winterthur and Zurich. The […] more ...

Christian Zacharias: Recital tour through Europe

2 March 2018

This Spring, Christian Zacharias is on a recital tour with stops in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France and Spain. In his luggage, he has a program of Haydn sonatas […] more ...

Christian Zacharias receives Honorary Doctorate from the University of Gothenburg

19 February 2018

We congratulate Christian Zacharias on receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Gothenburg! As part of a concert with the Symphony Orchestra of the University of Gothenburg, […] more ...

Christian Zacharias in Bergen and Montréal

13 February 2018

On February 15th and 16th, Christian Zacharias conducts the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in a classical program with Haydn’s Symphony No. 83 “La Poule” and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. […] more ...

Christian Zacharias touring internationally as a conductor

3 November 2017

In the coming weeks Christian Zacharias will be presenting exciting projects throughout Europe as a conductor and soloist. On November 9th and 10th in Bilbao, he presents masterpieces […] more ...

Christian Zacharias: Acclaim from Spain and Sweden

23 June 2017

Christian Zacharias has been awarded the honour of serving as Principal Guest Conductor of Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid for the season 2017/18. In the […] more ...

Christian Zacharias on tour with a captivating recital programme

4 May 2017

When it comes to music, Christian Zacharias is a chameleon. Whether performing as a conductor, soloist or chamber musician, he goes above and beyond his role. At the […] more ...

Christian Zacharias returns to Paris

3 March 2017

In October, Christian Zacharias joined the Orchestre de Paris to perform a celebrated Beethoven programme in Paris’ Philharmonie. In the coming days, he will once again be taking […] more ...

Christian Zacharias returns to Lausanne

10 February 2017

For more than a decade, Christian Zacharias helped develop a leading sound as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra. On numerous tours, the Lausanne […] more ...

Christian Zacharias performs recitals in November

30 October 2016

In November, Christian Zacharias’ tour will take him from Aix-en-Provence to Paris, Zurich and then on to London. He’ll be joined by the great masters Schumann, Schubert and […] more ...

Christian Zacharias – Beethoven – Orchestre de Paris

12 October 2016

This weekend, the Paris Philharmonie will revolve around Beethoven. Christian Zacharias, who will conduct the Orchestre de Paris and also perform as a soloist, is dedicating three concerts […] more ...

Christian Zacharias to perform the Schumann Cycle

30 September 2016

German composers of the Romantic era are one of Christian Zacharias’ specialties. His year-long preoccupation with Schumann’s oeuvre is also apparent in the recordings of his symphonies and […] more ...

Christian Zacharias to perform a variety of concerts in Toulouse

31 August 2016

This season, Toulouse will welcome Christian Zacharias as artist in residence. To begin his term, he will delight listeners once again with an evening of piano at the […] more ...

Christian Zacharias has exciting concerts in store

2 March 2016

In March, audiences can look forward to exciting concerts with Christian Zacharias both at the conductor’s stand and on the piano in Frankfurt, Lugano and Winterthur. The programme […] more ...

East Neuk Fesitval – Christian Zacharias – Julian Steckel

11 February 2016

The programme for the East Neuk Festival is now online! The festival held in the Scottish Highlands amidst picturesque lakes and historical castles originated in 2004. The widely […] more ...

Christian Zacharias on tour in Europe performing an evening of piano

27 October 2015

In only a few days, Christian Zacharias will embark on a month-long tour that will take him all across Europe. In selected cities, he will deliver virtuosic performances […] more ...

Christian Zacharias convenes with the Orchestre National de France

22 September 2015

This Thursday, 24th September, and Sunday, 27th September, Christian Zacharias will take the conductor’s stand to lead the Orchestre National de France in Paris in its performance of […] more ...

Christian Zacharias distinguished with award for his opera production

20 June 2015

The “Association Professionnelle de la Critique Théâtre, Musique et Danse” in Paris has awarded the production of the opera “The Merry Wives of Windsor” under the musical direction […] more ...

Christian Zacharias once again tours with the Kammerorchester Basel!

7 May 2015

After the outstanding success of last summer’s tour, Christian Zacharias will again be performing with the Basler Kammerorchester this year. The tour consisting of six concerts will take […] more ...

Christian Zacharias and the Orchestre National d’Auvergne

15 June 2022

Christian Zacharias | Piano November 18th – November 26th 2023 Program: Bruckner String quintett F major version for string orchestra Mozart Piano concerto No. 12 A major […] more ...

Christian Zacharias – recitals 2022/23 and 2023/24

21 February 2022

Christian Zacharias | Piano December 2023/may 2024/september/october 2024 or upon request Programme: Tschaikowski: The Seasons op. 37b F. Schubert: Piano sonata D major D 850 op. 53 or F. Schubert: Moments […] more ...

Christian Zacharias – Piano Lecture

5 October 2021

“When I talk about music, there are always music examples to listen to. Just talking about music is like describing a picture that one cannot see.” (Christian Zacharias) […] more ...

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Selected Programs

repertoire list conductor

Christian Zacharias – Beethoven Cycle

Christian Zacharias – A little Schumann festival

Christian Zacharias – Discography Piano

Christian Zacharias – Discography Conductor