When the doors of the Festspielhaus Bregenz open for the Master Concerts, the provincial capital becomes a meeting place for international classical music greats every year. What began almost 40 years ago as an ambitious concert series has developed into an institution that has long since spread far beyond Vorarlberg. Today, the Bregenz Master Concerts are a fixture in European musical life - supported by the state capital's cultural service and characterized by an unmistakable blend of artistic excellence, programmatic diversity and international appeal.

Six concerts make up the 2025/26 season - six manuscripts that could hardly be more different. Philippe Herreweghe kicks off the series with the Orchestre des Champs-Élysées and the Collegium Vocale Gent: Beethoven and Cherubini, Revolution and Requiem, History and Remembrance. The series' claim is already evident here - great works in a clever dramaturgy.
December will be contemplative when the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra under Olari Elts performs Arvo Pärt's "Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten". In addition to this musical meditation, Sibelius' violin concerto with Dutch violinist Simone Lamsma and Nordic soundscapes take center stage.

Simone Lamsma, Photo: Otto van den Toorn

The new year begins with a summit meeting: Augustin Hadelich interprets Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2, flanked by Wagner and Elgar. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra will perform under Alexander Soddy - a program between expressive power and subtle poetry.
In the fourth concert, modernism becomes the driving force: John Adams' fast-paced "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" meets Barber's rarely performed cello concerto, played by Maximilian Hornung, plus Debussy and Ravel. Roderick Cox leads the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier through a program full of energy, color and rhythm.
A highlight is undoubtedly the exclusive Valentin Silvestrov Gala in March: Hélène Grimaud, who has maintained a close artistic relationship with the Ukrainian composer for many years, presents a tribute of rare intensity together with the chamber orchestra of the BR Symphony Orchestra.
For the finale, Lisa Batiashvili and Giorgi Gigashvili set the intimate conclusion with a duo recital: Beethoven, Bartók and contemporary Georgian music - an evening full of virtuosity, tenderness and new discoveries.
The season is complemented by the format "Klangbilder. The organ in focus", which will open up a different world of sound in the parish church of St. Gallus in May 2026. Jeremy Joseph will dedicate himself to works by Muffat, Bach, Mozart, Brahms and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy on the organ.

Jeremy Joseph, Photo: Moritz Schell

In addition to the concerts, music education also plays a key role: workshops and school projects open doors to classical music for young people and secure the future of a vibrant musical culture.
The Bregenz Master Concerts have been combining world-class music with local roots for four decades. Mayor Michael Ritsch puts it in a nutshell: "They create spaces for musical experiences at the highest level - an offer that radiates far beyond the city limits."

Orchestre des Champs-Elysées & Collegium Vocale Gent
Philippe Herreweghe - Conductor
November 27, 2025

Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Olari Elts
Simone Lamsma, violin
December 19, 2025

Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Alexander Soddy
Augustin Hadelich, violin
January 23, 2026

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier
Conductor Roderick Cox
Maximilian Hornung, cello
February 20, 2026

Valentin Silvestrov Gala with Hélène Grimaud
Chamber Orchestra of the BR Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Radoslaw Szulc
Hélène Grimaud, piano
March 11, 2026

Duo recital
Lisa Batiashvili, violin
Giorgi Gigashvili, piano
April 18, 2026

Sound images. Focus on the organ.
Jeremy Joseph, organist
May 8, 2026

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