Program
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Sonata in A major op.69
Richard Strauss (1864-1949) Sonata in F major op. 6
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) Sonata in D minor op. 40
Christoph Stradner – Cello
The native Viennese comes from a traditional Austrian family of musicians. As a soloist, Christoph Stradner performs with renowned orchestras at home and abroad – under the direction of conductors such as Adam Fischer, Fabio Luisi, or Vladimir Fedosejev. His concert tours have taken him across Europe and Asia.
He began his musical education with Frieda Litschauer, continued at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with Wolfgang Herzer, and was complemented by a year of study with William Pleeth in London. Stradner also received significant artistic impulses in master classes with personalities such as Mischa Maisky, Daniel Shafran, Steven Isserlis, and David Geringas.
For many years, Christoph Stradner has been the principal cellist of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Prior to that, he held the same position at the Tonkünstler Orchestra Lower Austria, the Camerata Salzburg, and the Concentus Musicus Vienna. Another focus of his work is chamber music: for 12 years, he was a member of the internationally renowned Altenberg Trio Vienna, the "Trio in Residence" of the Wiener Musikverein. His artistic work is also shaped by projects such as the ensemble "Eight Cellists of the Vienna Symphony" or performances with notable musicians such as Lahav Shani, Janine Jansen, Julian Rachlin, Emmanuel Tjeknavorian, and Benjamin Schmid.
From 2006 to 2019, Stradner taught as a professor at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna.
He plays a rare cello by Antonio Stradivari from the year 1680.
Philipp Scheucher – Piano
Philipp Scheucher is among the outstanding young pianists of Austria. Whether in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, or the Konzerthaus Berlin – Scheucher captivates with his natural stage presence and vivid musicality, which immediately engages the audience. His concert tours take him to significant stages worldwide – to countries such as Japan, South Africa, Canada, Brazil, Russia, China, and the USA.
He completed his master's degree with distinction under Markus Schirmer in Graz. For this achievement, he was honored by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research as one of the 50 best graduates in Austria. This was followed by a concert examination with Ilja Scheps in Cologne and the prestigious "Artist Diploma" at the Royal College of Music in London under Dorian Leljak and Ian Jones.
In addition to his international concert activity, Philipp Scheucher teaches at the Johann-Joseph-Fux-Conservatory in Graz and regularly gives masterclasses. Since 2022, he has also been a member of the formation SYMPHONIACS, an innovative music project that combines classical music with electronic sounds – initiated by the Berlin composer and producer Andy Leomar.
As a multiple award winner of national and international competitions – including 2nd prize at the International Beethoven Competition in Vienna and the Beethoven House Prize in Bonn – Philipp Scheucher is regarded as one of the most versatile and exciting artists of his generation.
His discography includes, among others, a much-anticipated solo debut CD (2019), the double album Concert Apéritif du Piano (2020), and the BEETHOVEN album (2022, Naxos).