Grenzgänger | Kronberg Festival 2026 „Courage!“

Friedrich Gulda never allowed himself to be pigeonholed musically. The celebrated classical pianist loved jazz, improvisation, and provocation—and with his Concerto for Cello and Wind Orchestra, he composed a work that shatters all boundaries with audible delight.

In it, virtuosic cello passages meet jazz, marches, Alpine sounds, and big band energy. At times the work seems playful and exuberant; at others, lyrical, wild, or almost theatrical. It is precisely this freedom that makes it an ideal piece for Bruno Philippe and the hr Big Band under the direction of Ed Partyka.

Selected works by Duke Ellington further open up the concert morning to the world of jazz. “Grenzgänger” celebrates musicians who do not choose between stylistic worlds, but rather create something unique from their contrasts. A concert full of energy, wit, and musical independence.

More information about the Kronberg Festival and the concert.