Introduction to Christopher Franz:
Since 2004, Mr. Franz has been the principal solo cello of the internationally renowned NDR North German Broadcasting Elbe Philharmonic Orchestra. At the same time, he also serves as a cello professor at the Lubeck Conservatory of Music.
Christopher Franz, a German cellist, began his music studies at the age of five and welcomed his first public performance a year later. At the age of fifteen, with multiple successful youth cellist competitions, he was admitted to the preparatory department of the Hanover School of Music and Drama and studied under the renowned professor Klaus Stoke.
Before graduating from Hanover, Mr. Franz had the privilege of studying with the famous Russian cellist Daniel Shavland in Moscow. He has won scholarships from the Academy Award and the Willa Ritter Foundation, the Jurgen Ponto Foundation, and the German Federation of Industries (BDI). By participating in international master classes, Mr. Franz had the privilege of establishing friendly relationships with renowned soloists such as Radu Aldulescu, Heinrich Schiff, David Greenhas, and Steven Iserlis.
After several highly acclaimed cello competitions, Mr. Franz was appointed as the solo cellist at the Rhine German Opera House. Later, he became a solo cellist for the Dresden National Orchestra and the Cologne WDR Radio Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Franz is also an outstanding soloist for the Baylor Wagner Festival Symphony Orchestra, and regularly collaborates with Leipzig Buchang Symphony Orchestra and Bavarian Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Franz's collaborations with numerous renowned conductors are impressive, including Daniel Barenberg, Giuseppe Sinopoli, James Levin, Christopher Eisenbach, Herbert Blomstede, Isa Peca Salonin, Charles Dutuva, Maris Jansoons, Ricardo Muti, Pavo Yervi, Christopher von Donani, and others. He is also enthusiastic about composition activities. His albums include five solo cello works published by Wega Verlag, and many recordings can also be found in the NDR media library, such as the great Chinese composer Tan Dun's "The Interaction between Fire and Water" and Salon's cello concerto "Mania" directed by the composer himself.
The instrument played by Christopher Franz is a beautiful ancient instrument made by Venetian master Matteo Gofriele in 1690.

Piano performer:
Introduction to Pel Lundberg

Pel Lundberg is one of the most outstanding pianists in the Scandinavian Peninsula, renowned on the international stage for his outstanding musical talent and superb performance skills. He holds performances in various European countries, the United States, and Asia all year round, winning the appreciation and love of countless fans.
His concert tour covers top concert halls around the world, including Berlin Philharmonic Hall, Vienna Concert Hall and Music Association, Amsterdam Concert Hall, Milan Scala Theatre, Carnegie Hall in New York, Tonghara Hall in Zurich, Hamburg North Dei North Philharmonic Hall and Leicester Hall, Salzburg Festival Theatre, Baden Baden Festival Theatre Stockholm Concert Hall and Belvar Concert Hall, as well as Brussels Palace of Fine Arts.
As an outstanding soloist, Pel Lundberg collaborated with numerous orchestras, including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Swedish Opera House Orchestra, the Mozart Conservatory Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, the Slovenian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, the Moravian Symphony Orchestra of the Czech Republic, and the Ostbutern Chamber Orchestra of Finland. He collaborated with numerous conductor masters, including Teodor Currentzis, Gary Berkson, Sir Roger Norrington, Rossen Milanov, Jorma Panula, Johannes Kalitzke, Niklas Will é n, Glenn Mossop, and Jin Wang, showcasing the charm of music together.
In 2008, Pel Lundberg and Martin Grubinger were selected by the Vienna Concert Hall to participate in the "New Star Tour", performing in the world's most anticipated concert halls and winning unanimous applause from the audience.
He is often invited to participate in world-renowned music festivals, such as the Salzburg Festival, Schleswig Holstein Festival, Bonn Beethoven Festival, Heidelberg Spring Festival, Baden Baden Easter Festival, Rome Easter Festival, and Spain's Isla Christina Festival, showcasing his artistic charm. He also collaborated with numerous chamber music partners to perform piano duets, such as Mate Bekavac, Dietrich Fischer Dieskau, Irena Grafenauer, Martin Grubinger, Clemens Hagen, Thomas Hampson, Alfons Kontarsky, Alina Pogostkina, Julian Rachlin, Valentin Radutiu, Benjamin Schmid, J ö rg Widmann, and other top musicians.

Pel Lundberg also has outstanding achievements in music recording, collaborating with multiple record companies to record numerous CD and DVD works, including Accent Music, Deutsche Grammophon, Harmonia Mundi, H ä nssler Classics, KcClassics, Oehms Classics, and Thorofon. He recorded 20 opera fantasies by Talberg and has been dedicated to exploring the combination of singing art and piano performance for many years. In addition, he often plays piano duets with his sister Anna Buchenhorst, bringing wonderful music experiences to fans.
He actively participated in the premiere event and worked closely with many contemporary famous composers, including Klaus Ager, George Crumb, Franco Donatoni, Giya Kancheli, Gy ö rgy Kurt á g, Beat Furrer, and Arvo P ä rt. Through these collaborations, he demonstrated his pursuit and passion for music innovation.
Pel Lundberg was born in Skrleft, Sweden and began his music learning journey there. In Stockholm, he studied piano with Bj ö rn Ejdemo, Staffan Scheja, and Gunnar Hallhagen. At the age of only 15, he was given the opportunity to attend the Yehudi Menuine Music School, where he studied under Seta Tanyel and received guidance from Louis Kentner and Vladi Perlemuter. Subsequently, he continued his studies at the Mozart Conservatory of Music in Salzburg, under the guidance of Karl Heinz K ä mmerling, and obtained an honorary degree. He is also constantly improving his musical talent through his studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Stockholm, Paris and Budapest, as well as with Murray Perahia.

Programme

1. Grazunov... Spanish Serenade
2. Grazunov... Melody
3. Boulevard... Sonata No. 5 in G major (omitted repetition, shorter)
4. Schumann... Adagio und Allegro op.70
5. Tan Dun... Violin/Piano Sonata "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" Part 1
Halftime break
6. Brahms... Sonata in E minor op.38
7. Debussy... Moonlight
8. Piazzolla... The Great Tango