„His approach is often meticulous and detailed, with particular attention to clarity and balance of sound that emphasises transparency of musical lines and structural cohesion, allowing the discourse to flow naturally and each thematic unit to shine with its own character while maintaining an overall unity.“

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 conductor and pianist, 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 2021/2022 Christian Zacharias is Principal Guest Conductor at the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada. He is also Associate Conductor of the Orchestre National Auvergne Rhône-Alpes and in 2020 he wasappointed Honorary Conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra Bucharest. Zacharias has also been associated for many years with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and the Orquestra Sinfonica Do Porto Casa da Musica and performs regularly with 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 as well as the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Furthermore, he is a welcome guest at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the National Orchestra of Lyon.

Piano recitals, which are a rarity, take and took him to the major cities in Europe, including Paris, London, Madrid and Frankfurt, as well as to the Schubertiade, Festival International de Piano de La Roque d’Anthéron and to 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 di 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 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 all Schumann symphonies and the complete Mozart piano concertos which were awarded the Diapason d’Or de l’Année, Choc du Monde de la Musique and ECHO Klassik. In 2022/2023 two solo albums with sonatas by Haydn as well as partitas and suites by Bach were finally released with MDG after a long pause.

Season 2024/2025 | Photo: Constanze Zacharias | Quote: Granady Hoy, April 28th 2024
Amendments or edits need the consent of Künstlersekretariat Astrid Schoerke GmbH