From 1 to 5 August, the courtyard of Neuschwanstein Castle became a meeting place for international classical music stars. With the sure instinct of artistic directors Trixi Steiner and Matthias Greving, who were commissioned for the first time, Neuschwanstein Konzerte gGmbH presented world-class ensembles and artists, including the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, the Munich Symphony Orchestra, Rolando Villazón, Elīna Garanča and crossover cellist HAUSER. Against the unique backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, unforgettable moments were created that moved audiences and artists alike. The classical music festival combined musical excellence with more than 5,500 hours of voluntary work in preparation.
With over 2,000 guests and an overall occupancy rate of 82% – compared to 60% in the previous year – the new artistic concept has proven its worth. In addition to the selection of top-class artists, the 180-degree rotation of the stage is also worth mentioning, as it now offers the audience an even better view of the illuminated towers of the palace. This creates a dialogue between music and architecture – between sound and history. Over the course of five concert evenings, not only were established music lovers reached, but new and international audience segments were also gained.
The concert series was lavishly produced for television by Kinescope Film GmbH. Broadcasts will take place from the end of September and throughout October at various times and will also be available in the media libraries of ZDF, ARTE and 3sat:
Tetelman & Zurflüh
– Recording from 1 August 2025
With the CHAARTS Chamber Artists under the direction of concertmaster David Castro-Balbi and soloists Jonathan Tetelman (tenor) and Chelsea Zurflüh (soprano), the concert brings together key works by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Gounod, Bizet and Rota. Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” opens the evening. This will be followed by arias from Die Zauberflöte and Lucio Silla, performed by Chelsea Zurflüh. Verdi is represented by Luisa Miller and La traviata – including the famous drinking song “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici”, sung by both soloists. Puccini follows with the string serenade Crisantemi, before the duet “O soave fanciulla” (La bohème) is performed. French opera finds its place with Gounod’s “Je veux vivre” and excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen. The concert concludes with film music by Nino Rota, including La Strada and the well-known melody “Parla più piano” from Il Padrino.
Elīna Garanča
– Recording from 2 August 2025
Die CHAARTS Chamber Artists konzertieren unter der Leitung von Konzertmeister David Castro-Balbi mit der Mezzosopranistin Elīna Garanča in einem Programm, das romantische Klangwelten zwischen Wagner, Mahler und Bizet entfaltet. Im Mittelpunkt stehen Werke aus Bizets Carmen: orchestrale Suiten-Teile wie Nocturne, Aragonaise und Intermezzo wechseln sich mit zentralen Arien der Titelpartie ab, darunter „L’amour est un enfant Bohème“, „Près des remparts de Séville“ und die bekannte „Habanera“.
Klaus Florian Vogt
– Aufzeichnung vom 3. August 2025
Die Münchner Symphoniker unter der Leitung von Ulf Schirmer und mit Klaus Florian Vogt als Tenor-Solist widmen sich in diesem Konzert den großen Gestalten der Opernliteratur. Zu Beginn erklingen Mozarts Ouvertüre zur „Zauberflöte“ sowie Taminos Arie „Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön“. Mit Beethovens „Gott! Welch Dunkel hier!“ aus Fidelio folgt Florestans dramatischer Auftritt. Weber ist mit der Ouvertüre zum „Freischütz“ sowie den Arien des Max vertreten. Anschließend stehen Richard Wagners Meistersinger von Nürnberg mit Vorspiel und Szene „Fanget an!“ im Mittelpunkt. Es folgen die Ouvertüre zum „Tannhäuser“ und die Romerzählung. Zum Abschluss widmet sich das Programm Lehárs „Dein ist mein ganzes Herz“ aus Land des Lächelns, Richard Strauss mit „Cäcilie“ und eines seiner berühmtesten Lieder aus dem Opus 27 „Morgen“.
HAUSER
– Recording from 4 August 2025
With his distinctive cello playing, HAUSER transcends the boundaries between classical, film and pop music. Together with musicians from the Munich Symphony Orchestra, he presents a programme in this concert that impressively showcases the diversity of the cello. It begins with Piazzolla’s “Secret Garden” and Lucio Dalla’s “Caruso” and continues with music from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, Tomaso Albinoni’s Adagio, Bach’s Air on a G String and Piazzolla’s “Libertango”. This is followed by a focus on film music: themes from The Godfather, Gladiator, Love Story, Cinema Paradiso, Titanic, Game of Thrones and Pirates of the Caribbean. The concert concludes with Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.
Villazón, Schultz, Tézier
– Recording from 5 August 2025
With the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen conducted by Omer Meir Wellber and soloists Golda Schultz (soprano), Rolando Villazón (tenor), and Ludovic Tézier (baritone), this concert offers an evening that combines great moments from opera and operetta. The program opens with Mozart’s duet “Là ci darem la mano” from Don Giovanni, sung by Golda Schultz and Ludovic Tézier. This is followed by Massenet’s moving aria “Ô souverain, ô juge, ô père” (Le Cid) performed by Rolando Villazón. Verdi is represented with the Preludio from “Rigoletto,” the baritone aria “Cortigiani, vil razza dannata” (Ludovic Tézier), and the duet “Che nell’alma infondere amor” from Don Carlo, performed by Villazón and Tézier.
The second half of the evening is devoted to operetta: Golda Schultz with Lehár’s ‘Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiß’ (Giuditta), Rolando Villazón with ‘Amor, vida de mi vida’ from Torroba’s Maravilla, and the famous duet ‘Lippen schweigen’ from The Merry Widow (Schultz and Villazón). The glittering finale is “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” from Lehár’s Das Land des Lächelns, sung by all three soloists.
Highlights
– Recording from 1–5 August 2025
The final evening of the TV series brings together the highlights of all five concerts in a special programme on stage. International stars from the opera and classical music scene join forces with renowned orchestras and ensembles to present a best-of programme featuring great arias, duets and musical classics.
Golda Schultz, Rolando Villazón and Ludovic Tézier open with ensemble scenes from Mozart and Verdi as well as popular operetta numbers, including the famous duet “Lippen schweigen” from Lehár’s The Merry Widow.
Elīna Garanča performs key arias from Bizet’s Carmen, from the Habanera to the scene “Près des remparts de Séville”.
Jonathan Tetelman and Chelsea Zurflüh devote themselves to the Italian-French repertoire with arias and duets by Puccini, Gounod and Bizet. Film music by Nino Rota – including La Strada and the love theme from Il Padrino – is also part of the evening.
Mit Klaus Florian Vogt erklingen Arien aus Mozarts Zauberflöte sowie Webers Freischütz. Einen weiteren Akzent setzt HAUSER, der mit den Münchner Symphonikern Filmmusiken wie The Godfather, Love Story, Pirates of the Caribbean und Hallelujah in eigenen Interpretationen präsentiert.
Klaus Florian Vogt will perform arias from Mozart’s Magic Flute and Weber’s Freischütz. HAUSER will add another highlight, presenting his own interpretations of film scores such as The Godfather, Love Story, Pirates of the Caribbean and Hallelujah with the Munich Symphony Orchestra.
Many thanks
Special thanks go to the Hotel König Ludwig, which organised the culinary séparée in the VIP lounge for guests of honour. The events were sponsored by the Bavarian Cultural Fund (Free State of Bavaria), the district of Swabia, the district of Ostallgäu and funds from the Kurt and Felicitas Viermetz Foundation. Finally, the festival family would like to thank the Neuschwanstein Castle Administration for their trusting cooperation.
Planning for the 2026 season, featuring exciting world-class artists, is already in full swing.
