Among the pianists and conductors of his generation, Christian Zacharias stands out for his talent as a musical narrator. Each of his elaborate, detailed and clearly articulated performances reveals a clear intention: Zacharias is interested in what lies beneath the notes.
With a unique combination of integrity and individuality, a brilliant capacity for linguistic expression, a deep musical understanding and impeccable artistic instinct, along with his charismatic and captivating artistic personality, Christian Zacharias has established himself not only as a great pianist and conductor, but also as a great musical thinker. He has given numerous concerts with the best orchestras and conductors in the world, and his prestigious international career is marked by multiple recognitions and recordings.
Since the 2021-22 season, Christian Zacharias has been principal guest conductor of the City of Granada Orchestra. In addition, since 2021/2022, he has been part of the artistic direction team of the Orchestre National Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, serving as associate director. In addition, for years he has collaborated with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, the Orchestre National de Toulouse, the Frankfurt Opern and Museumsorchester, the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He is also a regular guest of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestre National de Lyon.
His piano recitals, which occasionally still appear in his busy schedule, have taken him to major European metropolises such as Paris, London, Madrid and Frankfurt, as well as renowned festivals such as the Schubertiade, the Festival International de Piano de La Roque d'Anthéron and Piano aux Jacobins in Toulouse. In addition to recitals, Zacharias offers the public revealing musical perspectives in lectures on the piano, on topics such as ‘From Couperin to Poulenc’, ‘Why does Schubert sound like Schubert?’, ‘From madrigals to Edith Piaf’ and ‘Haydn, a creation from nothing?’.
His special fondness for opera has led him to direct 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 2014/2015 by the Professional Association of Theatre, Music and Dance Critics of Paris.
In addition, since 1990, several films starring Christian Zacharias have been made, including Domenico Scarlatti à Seville, Robert Schumann – The Poet Speaks (both for INA, Paris), Between Stage and Dressing Room (for WDR-arte), From B for Beethoven to Z for Zacharias (for RTS, Switzerland) and the complete Beethoven Piano Concertos (for SSR-arte).
His musical work has been recognised on numerous occasions, including with the Midem Classical Award, the honorary title of Officier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of the French State and a tribute in Romania for his services to culture. Christian Zacharias was appointed a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 2016 and, in 2017, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Gothenburg.
As principal conductor of the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, he made numerous internationally acclaimed recordings, including the complete Mozart Piano Concertos – awarded with the Diapason d'Or, the Choc du Monde de la Musique and the ECHO Klassik – and all of Schumann's Symphonies. Almost twenty years later, during the 2022/2023 seasons, two albums were released: with Haydn's Sonatas and Bach's Partitas and Suites.
