Christian Zacharias

The qualities that make Christian Zacharias one of the world’s most celebrated pianists have enabled him also to make his mark as a conductor, festival director, musical thinker, writer, and broadcaster: integrity married to individualism; deep musical insight matched by a sure poetic instinct; a brilliance in communication; a charismatic and commanding platform manner.

Zacharias made his name first as a pianist, and continues to appear in concertos and recitals worldwide. His career to date has also been distinguished by important chamber music relationships with esteemed colleagues, including the Alban Berg Quartet, the Leipziger String Quartet, Heinrich Schiff, and Frank Peter Zimmermann. Since 2000, Zacharias has been principal conductor of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, with which he made a number of critically acclaimed recordings. Zacharias has also been principal guest conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra since the 2002–03 season. 

In 2009, Zacharias became an artistic partner of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He also enjoys long-term relationships with orchestras such as the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics, and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Most recently, he has embarked on an operatic career with productions of two very different works: Mozart’s opera seria La Clemenza di Tito (Geneva) and Offenbach’s opéra bouffe La Belle Hélène.