Two internationally renowned pianists as portrait artists, exciting new venues and an exclusive project with Kit Armstrong: with fresh ideas, outstanding artistic personalities and inspiring programmes, the Klavier-Festival 2025 will live up to its claim of opening up a globally unique meeting place for piano music.
For her second season, artistic director Katrin Zagrosek has invited over 100 artists, including 59 pianists, to fill 25 venues in 17 cities with music between 10 May and 16 July.
‘Encounters with music create a purpose-free community in which cultural boundaries can be overcome and emotions shared,’ says Artistic Director Katrin Zagrosek, looking ahead to the festival. ‘I am thrilled by the great interest we have met with from music lovers in the region and also from sponsors and co-operation partners. It is proof that our programme is highly relevant here and now. I look forward to many exciting encounters with people and musical works at the 2025 Festival.’
The festival is located in Germany’s Ruhr Valley. Larger cities like Düsseldorf, Dortmund or Essen are home to 5 million people. The area is known for coal mining and steel industry and is re-inventing itself to become a big player in the fields of culture and service industries.
The festival takes part in all major cities within and nearby the Ruhr Valley. Nearest airports are Düsseldorf, Cologne and Dortmund, with good train connections between all cities.
As a metropolitan area, the Ruhr Valley offers various types of accomodation – from five-star hotels to B&B.
The venues include all the big concert halls in the area, as well as chamber music venues, churches, museums and former industrial facilities – any place that you can put a piano in and that matches the artistic vision of the artists.
"The Ruhr area is gray and dingy" - no way! Long gone are the times when smoke and coal dust defined the image of the region. An exciting mixture of spectacular industrial heritage culture, tranquil nature, exciting cities and modern hospitality that is second to none awaits you here. Experience and discover the Ruhr area!
There is no specific dress code.
Bars and restaurants are available nearby each venue, offering snacks and beverages.
As star pianist Igor Levit put it: „Klavier-Festival Ruhr is the world’s biggest piano party". We invite you to come and join the party.
