Julian Prégardien
is one of the most engaging classical singers of our time. His clear voice and moving expression of text, coupled with a unique ability to tell stories through song, predestined him for lieder singing. In October 2024, the new "Liedstadt" Festival, which he founded, will debut in Hamburg. He shares the artistic direction of this traveling festival with musician and project developer Kian Jazdi, and art director Cate Pisaroni.

As a sought-after Evangelist in Bach's Passions, Prégardien’s memorable interpretations were recently heard in concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Franz Welser-Möst, and the Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Thomanerchor Leipzig under the direction of Thomaskantor Andreas Reize.

In fall 2023, Prégardien celebrated the 200th anniversary of Franz Schubert's song cycle Die schöne Müllerin with a unique project: "Müller*inWien". This landmark project can be followed on his social media channels, and in summer 2024 the project can be experienced via audio and video recordings from both ARD and Harmonia Mundi.

Highlights of his activities this year include a tour of Bach's St. Matthew Passion conducted by Philippe Herreweghe, with stops at the Teatro alla Scala and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg; the role of Tamino in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, in a new production by Nikolaus Habjan; and the role of Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Festival, where he will also be heard as the Evangelist in Bach's St. Matthew Passion and with Sir András Schiff in Franz Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin.

Kristian Bezuidenhout
is one of today’s most notable and exciting keyboard artists, equally at home on the fortepiano, harpsichord, and modern piano. Born in South Africa in 1979, he began his studies in Australia, completed them at the Eastman School of Music, and now lives in London. After initial training as a pianist with Rebecca Penneys, he explored early keyboards, studying harpsichord with Arthur Haas, fortepiano with Malcolm Bilson, and continuo playing and performance practice with Paul O’Dette. Kristian first gained international recognition at the age of 21 after winning the prestigious first prize, and audience prize in the Bruges Fortepiano Competition.

Kristian is a regular guest with the world’s leading ensembles including the Freiburger Barockorchester, Les Arts Florissants, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Orchestre des Champs Elysées, Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest, Chicago Symphony Orchestra & the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester; and has guest-directed (from the keyboard) the English Concert, Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Tafelmusik, Collegium Vocale, Juilliard 415 and the Kammerakademie Potsdam, & Dunedin Consort (Bach St. Matthew Passion).

He has performed with celebrated artists including John Eliot Gardiner, Philippe Herreweghe, Bernhard Haitink, Daniel Harding, Frans Brüggen, Trevor Pinnock, Giovanni Antonini, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Isabelle Faust, Alina Ibragimova, Rachel Podger, Carolyn Sampson, Anne Sofie von Otter, Mark Padmore & Matthias Goerne.

Kristian’s rich and award-winning discography on Harmonia Mundi includes the complete keyboard music of Mozart (Diapason d’Or de L’année, Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, & Caecilia Prize); the complete Piano Concertos of Beethoven with the Freiburger Barockorchester; Bach Violin Sonatas w. Isabelle Faust; Mozart Violin Sonatas with Petra Müllejans; Mendelssohn and Mozart Piano Concertos with the Freiburger Barockorchester (ECHO Klassik); Beethoven, & Mozart Lieder, and Schumann Dichterliebe with Mark Padmore (Edison Award). In 2013 he was nominated as Gramophone Magazine’s Artist of the Year. Upcoming releases include two discs of Mozart Piano Concertos with the Freiburger Barockorchester to be recorded in May 2021.

In the 20/21 season, Kristian appears as a soloist with Essener Philharmoniker/Richard Egarr, Les Arts Florissants/William Christie, Kammerorchester Basel/Giovanni Antonini, Orchestre National de France/Emmanuel Krivine and Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra/Klaus Makela. His play-direct visits include Concerto Copenhagen, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Freiburger Barockorchester and English Concert. Kristian gives solo recitals, continues his close recital partnership with Anne Sofie von Otter and new collaborations with Voces 8 and Niek Baar.