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"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 the 2017/18 season, Christian Zacharias holds the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid, and from 2020 will hold the same position with the Orquestra Sinfonica Do Porto Casa da Musica, and was named Honorary Conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic in Bucharest.
On the occasion of his 70th birthday, Christian Zacharias will give a few last piano recitals in the musical centers of Europe, for example in Paris, London and Rome.
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. He's also developed a special love of opera and has directed 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.
The musical work of Christian 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, Christian Zacharias 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.
