Marie-Sophie Janke won the Zukunftsstimmen competition , hosted by Elīna Garanča, who has served as her coach ever since. The mezzo-soprano has been a member of the ensemble at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe since 2025.

Beyond Talent

Musikverein Wien

The Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt) traditionally performs at the Gießen City Theatre every season – this time under the direction of the award-winning young American conductor Roderick Cox and with a special, captivating program. Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony is known as his "Fate Symphony." In it, emotions are given a cinematic treatment. The symphony is filled with sorrow and melancholy, overwhelming the audience with its powerful imagery. In contrast, a compelling concerto for the lowest of all string instruments will be presented. This work is the work of the Italian composer Bottesini, the "Paganini of the double bass." The Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra's principal double bassist, Bogusław Furtok, will perform it and is sure to enthrall the audience.

Concerts at the Gießen City Theatre

Theater Gießen

Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony is known as his "Fate Symphony." In it, emotions unfold on a grand, cinematic scale. Filled with sorrow and melancholy, it overwhelms with its powerful imagery. In contrast to this Russian emotional drama, this "Quick & Classy" program offers a captivating concerto – for the lowest of all string instruments. It owes its existence to the Italian Bottesini, the "Paganini of the double bass." In the mid-19th century, he was the greatest virtuoso of this instrument, revolutionizing its playing and making it far more than just sing in his music. The hr's solo double bassist, Bogusław Furtok, will enthrall audiences, as will the award-winning young American conductor Roderick Cox and the hr Symphony Orchestra in this famous Tchaikovsky symphony.

Fate with Bass

Hessischer Rundfunk

Why does the double bass so rarely play the leading role – and what happens when it does? In this concert for school classes in grades 5 to 7, the lowest string instrument finally takes center stage. Together with Theo Plath, solo bassoonist of the hr Symphony Orchestra, and Bogusław Furtok, solo double bassist, the students will discover the astonishing sound and history of the double bass. The centerpiece is the F-sharp minor Concerto by Giovanni Bottesini, the "Paganini of the double bass" – a work that demonstrates just how agile, sonorous, and surprising this instrument can be. Between movements, discussions will explore fascinating facts, amusing anecdotes, and the evolution of the double bass from a sonic foundation to a solo star. A concert that opens ears and makes learning about instruments a fresh experience.

Bottesini's double bass

Gavin Hardy, from Winston-Salem, N.C., a student of Edgar Meyer and Hal Robinson, is a Curtis Institute of Music Fellow and entered Curtis in 2024.

Broadcast: Bach, Bottesini, and Coulthard

A magnificent mosaic of magnificent compositions and exceptional musicians: a concert evening with the LGT Young Soloists promises nothing less. The highly talented young members hail from over 20 nations, all performing as soloists and accompanying musicians. Since its founding in 2013, the ensemble has enjoyed success with this concept; two years ago, it made its US debut and toured internationally through Australia, Asia, and North America. Under the direction of their founder, Alexander Gilman, the LGT Young Soloists will present serene string divertimenti, romantic and wistful works by Max Bruch, baroque lightness from Schnittke's new music, Paganini virtuosity on the double bass, and, last but not least, the passionate tango counterpart to Vivaldi's classic "The Seasons."

Lgt Young Soloists

Ludwigsburg Residential Palace

EPSG:4326

The Knights

Central Park

The Knights are excited to return to the iconic Naumburg Bandshell on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. No tickets are required to attend this celebratory outdoor performance with Naumburg Orchestral Concerts, and seating will be offered on a first come first serve basis. The concert will also be broadcast live on WQXR.

The Knights at Naumburg Orchestral Concerts

Haslemere Festival: London Mozart Players with Levi Andreassen and Elfida Su Turan

St Christopher's Church

Chamber music of the Konzerthausorchester

Konzerthaus Berlin

The musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra put the pedal to the floor in two bedazzling showpieces by Respighi. The Italian conductor Jader Bignamini makes his ASO debut after presenting these works at the Kennedy Center, driving the audience to their feet for multiple curtain calls. The ASO welcomes the Italian violin sensation Giuseppe Gibboni. Winner of the Paganini International Violin Competition, the Devil-may-care young fiddler performs (what else?) the Paganini Violin Concerto No. 1. Bignamini fans the flames with a concert opener by Bottesini.

Italian Holiday with the ASO

The Woodruff Arts Center

Experience intimate chamber music programs curated and performed by small ensembles of SF Symphony musicians.

Chamber Music At Davies Symphony Hall

Davies Symphony Hall

In pursuit of their degrees at SFCM, each student presents a recital that represents their artistry and craft. Student Recitals feature repertoire curated by students with guidance from their faculty instructor.

Alexandria Kelley, double bass - Second Year Master's Recital

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

World-famous bassist and composer Edgar Meyer joins Symphony of the Mountains for a night of exquisite music, including his own Concerto No. 1 in D and Bottesini's Concerto for Double Bass No. 2.

Virtuoso: An Evening with Edgar Meyer & Symphony of the Mountains

East Tennessee State University

A trip to Italy at the end of winter! At the age of 22, Richard Strauss went on an educational trip to the land of lemons and brought back music as a souvenir that ranks among the Italian compositions of the 19th century by Mendelssohn, Bizet and Tchaikovsky. Enchanted by cities, ruins and life by the sea, Strauss called the movements of his orchestral fantasy "Beaches of Sorrento" or "Neapolitan Folk Life". He wove Italian hits such as "Funicoli, funicola" into the pieces. In the versatile concerto for his own instrument, the double bassist, composer and conductor Giovanni Bottesini set vocal passages alongside acrobatics across the entire fingerboard. As the "Paganini of the double bass", Bottesini revolutionized the way his instrument was played in the 19th century. The British double bassist Alexandra Scott - who travels with Europe's top orchestras and is a sought-after lecturer, chamber music partner and professor at the Munich University of Music - takes on the crazy challenge of "playing the violin with the double bass", as her colleague Ödön Rácz said.

5th Symphony Concert

Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Created with Wigmore Hall’s Director, John Gilhooly, the chamber ensemble comprises a roster of outstanding musicians led by Michael Collins and Isabelle van Keulen. Here it takes up the cause of the neglected Anglo-French George Onslow, alongside the German Louis Spohr (1784-1859) and the Italian double bass virtuoso Giovanni Bottesini (1821-89).

Wigmore Soloists

Wigmore Hall

Join the Omaha Symphony for an unforgettable performance titled "Bottesini & Beethoven 8" at the Joslyn Art Museum on Sunday, October 6th at 2:00 PM. This concert features Principal Bass Nate Olson as he takes on Giovanni Bottesini’s Double Bass Concerto No. 2, a piece that showcases the virtuosic capabilities of the double bass, often compared to the works of Paganini for its operatic flair and technical demands. Alongside Bottesini's masterpiece, the program includes Ottorino Respighi's Ancient Airs & Dances, Suite I, and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8, a work known for its energetic and humorous character, embodying the spirit of goodwill and the power of orchestral music.

Under the baton of Music Director Ankush Kumar Bahl, this concert promises to be a celebration of musical brilliance, featuring the Omaha Symphony’s own Nate Olson. Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony, with its lively tempos and joyful energy, alongside Bottesini's concerto, offers a unique blend of classical music's emotional depth and technical prowess.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of classical music performed by the talented musicians of the Omaha Symphony. Subscribe today to enjoy benefits such as free exchanges and savings on tickets. Individual tickets will be available for sale in August, but early subscribers can take advantage of the special 6-Concert package for just $190. Join us for an afternoon of exquisite music at the Joslyn Art Museum and be part of a musical journey that celebrates the legacy and innovation of classical music.

Bottesini & Beethoven 8

Joslyn Art Museum

“Hi-yo, Silver! Away!” Rossini’s William Tell Overture is best known for being featured as the theme song for the radio and television series The Lone Ranger.

In 2024 Meyer received his sixth and seventh Grammy Awards for a collaborative recording “As We Speak” with Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Rakesh Chaurasia. The recording won Best Contemporary Album and Best Global Music Performance.

Piazzolla's Four Seasons

Southern Oregon University

Grants Pass High School

Collier Center for the Performing Arts

Mexican Concert

University Theater Center (CUT)

Join us for an exquisite Chamber Music Workshop titled "Music in the Vineyards" on Saturday, August 17th, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. This unique event, "An Echo in the Vineyards," will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1333 3rd St, Napa, CA 94559. 

Designed for accomplished adult enthusiasts, including advanced high school and college students, this workshop offers a rare opportunity to meet like-minded musicians and play in small ensembles. Participants will receive ensemble music in advance to prepare for a collaborative and enriching experience. 

The workshop will feature guidance and insights from Michael Adams and the 2024 Fellowship String Quartet, the Cabaletta Quartet. Attendees who also purchase tickets for the Community Concert at 5 pm will enjoy reserved front-row seating and the chance to participate in the Pachelbel play-along.

The repertoire includes timeless pieces such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Luigi Boccherini's Night Music of the Streets of Madrid, Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto for Four Violins and Strings, Giovanni Bottesini's Grand Duo Concertante, and Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major.

Participation is priced at $10 per student, with free admission for students. This workshop not only promises a day filled with beautiful chamber music but also offers a platform for musicians to connect and create lasting memories. 

Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of chamber music amidst the scenic backdrop of Napa. Book your spot now and be part of a community that celebrates music education and participatory experiences for all ages and walks of life.

Chamber Music Workshop

Presbyterian Day School

Chamber music, show tunes, opera, and more! “Nate’s World: Songs of Love” sets famous arias side by side with classic popular songs and virtuosic instrumental interludes, all touching on aspects of love. From La bohème to Leonard Bernstein, Carmen to a country ballad, these are all filled with timeless, universal sentiments, and chamber music’s exquisite intimacy is the perfect setting. Conceived, curated, and performed by Nate Farrington, principal bassist of the Los Angeles Opera, joined by special guest soprano Kathleen O'Mara and PCMF Resident Artists Susie Park and Henry Kramer.

Nate's World: Songs of Love

University of Southern Maine

Prelude Concert

Tanglewood Music Center

**Event: Teaching Artists Showcase at Music Academy of the West**

**Date & Time:** 7:30 pm, Tuesday, June 25  
**Venue:** Hahn Hall, Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108  
**Tickets:** Starting at $40, Community Access: FREE for ages 7-17  
**Availability:** 1 Event Remaining  

**About the Event:**  
Join us for an extraordinary evening at the Teaching Artists Showcase, part of the Showcase Sampler Series at the prestigious Music Academy of the West. This unique performance features our brilliant teaching artists pairing pianos with unexpected instruments, from oboe to bass, to cello, and yes, even another piano. Experience the magic of classical music in new and innovative arrangements that promise to inspire and delight.

**Program Highlights:**  
- **Claude Debussy:** Sonata for Cello and Piano  
- **Paul Hindemith:** Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 11, No. 4  
- **George Walker:** Sonata for Cello and Piano  
- **Giovanni Bottesini:** Elegy No. 1  
- **Ludwig van Beethoven:** Sonata No. 10 for Piano and Violin in G Major, Op. 96  

**Featured Artists:**  
- Alan Stepansky, cello  
- Natasha Kislenko, piano  
- Richard O’Neill, viola  
- Margaret McDonald, piano  
- Seth Parker Woods, cello  
- Conor Hanick, piano  
- Nico Abondolo, double bass  
- Martin Beaver, violin  
- Jonathan Feldman, piano  

**Duration:** Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes with one intermission.

**Special Notes:**  
- Early ticket sales access is a benefit for members of the Vivace Donor Society.  
- If you are unable to attend, consider donating your tickets back as a tax-deductible contribution by calling the Ticket Return Hotline at least 24 hours prior to the event.  
- Free campus parking is available for all events and activities at the Music Academy.

**Booking & Additional Information:**  
For tickets and more information, visit the Music Academy website or contact the Carsey Ticket Office at 805-969-8787. Explore the full range of subscription packages and special events, and take the opportunity to support tomorrow's musicians through donations and engagement with the Music Academy's mission.

Don't miss this captivating evening of music and artistry at one of Santa Barbara's most beautiful beachside campuses.

Teaching Artists Showcase

Music Academy of the West

Join us for an enchanting evening of music at the Jeanne Vail Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Road, Evanston, on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 8:00pm CDT. This special recital features Lucas Zurbuchen, a talented double bass player and Bachelor of Music student under the guidance of Andrew Raciti. The evening promises a diverse program that includes J.S. Bach's Suite No. 5 in A Minor, BWV 1011, Giovanni Bottesini's Concerto No. 2 in B Minor for Double Bass, W.A. Mozart's Per questa bella mano, K. 612, John Clayton's Trio, and Tom Johnson's Failing.

Lucas will be joined by V. Matthew Steinbaum, baritone, Nathan Canfield, piano, and fellow double bassists Sophie Denhard and Luisa Brown-Hernandez, creating a rich tapestry of sounds and styles. This event is free and open to the public, offering a wonderful opportunity to experience the depth and versatility of the double bass within the beautiful acoustics of the Jeanne Vail Chapel. No tickets are required for this event, so be sure to mark your calendar for a memorable night of music and talent.

Lucas Zurbuchen, double b

Jeanne Vail Chapel

Student Recital: Brian Bera

Carnegie Mellon University

Performing symphonic works by Bottesini, Mozart, and Prokofiev.

The Claremont Concert Orchestra

Garrison Theater

Study concert with DIS-students under Anne-Marie Lipsonen

Study concert with DIS-students

The Studio Hall

This recital is given in partial fulfillment of the degree Master of Music. Judson Baines is a student of Timothy Pitts.

Judson Baines, Double Bass

Alice Pratt Brown Hall

This recital is given in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Music. Jimmy Perera is a student of Paul Ellison.

Jimmy Perera, Double Bass

The Penn State Bass Day is an event open to bassists at all levels and all ages. Activities include, solo and jazz masterclasses, bass ensemble, instrument exhibits, performances, and much more. Join us for a full day of Bass love!

Recital at Penn State Bass Day

Penn State School of Music

Genre-defying bassist and composer Edgar Meyer bridges the worlds of classical and bluegrass music to shine a new light on American music. The only bassist to ever be awarded a MacArthur ‘genius’ grant, his diverse lineup of musical collaborators includes Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, and Béla Fleck. Meyer joins the Winston-Salem Symphony to perform his own Concerto for Double Bass and Giovanni Bottesini’s Concerto No. 2.

Jessie Montgomery’s Strum likewise salutes American folk music, creating a mesmerizing groove through the plucking of strings, and Dvořák’s groundbreaking Symphony No. 9 masterfully fuses European classical traditions with the rich rhythms and melodies of the American landscape.

Edgar Meyer + The New World

R.J. Reynolds High School

Conductor Laureate Osmo Vänskä, a champion of both new music and rising stars, revisits his beloved Minnesota Orchestra. Through Orchestra commissions by Anders Hillborg and Kevin Puts—plus two bass concertos performed by Nina Bernat, the 2022 FRIENDS of the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artist Competition winner—this concert reflects Vänskä’s wide-ranging and compelling vision for the future of orchestral music.

Osmo Vänskä Returns

Minnesota Orchestra

Professor of Double Bass Yung-Chiao Wei, pianist Chaoi Chou, and Dean’s Concerto Competition winner Po-Yu Fang for a performance of classics, including Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No. 5, Bottesini’s Passione Amorosa, and more.

Yung-Chiao Wei (Double Bass) with Chaoi Chou & Po-Yu Fang – Faculty & Guest Recital

Louisiana State University

This recital is given in partial fulfillment of the degree Master of Music. Michael Zogaib is a student of Paul Ellison.


Michael Zogaib, Double Bass

In Mendelssohn’s case, the talent was supported by privilege. He was born into a family that was cultured and wealthy; his grandfather was the noted philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, and his father, Abraham, was a supremely successful banker (one remembered for his remark that he was destined to go down in history as his father’s son and his son’s father). As a result, young Felix, his gifted sister Fanny Cäcilie, and their younger sister Rebecka and brother Paul enjoyed certain perks as they moved through their childhood. One was that Felix had at his disposal a private orchestra to try out his new compositions at Sunday musicales in the family home in Berlin (where the Mendelssohns had moved when Felix was only two). Many of his lifelong friendships were developed during the years of the private house concerts; it was then that he grew close to Ferdinand David (the musician whom Mendelssohn blessed with his two violin concertos), Julius Schubring (the theologian who would go on to compile the texts for Mendelssohn’s oratorios), and Karl Klingemann (eleven years Mendelssohn’s senior, an accomplished amateur musician and a diplomat). Klingemann is at least partly to thank for the existence of the concert overture Fingal’s Cave, one of Mendelssohn’s most popular works.

Virtuosic

Ridgefield Playhouse

Taylor Abbitt, Double Bass

The Juilliard School

Departmental Recitals showcase performance departments through its students. Featuring various students and repertoire, and curated by the faculty, performances in this recital highlight SFCM programs and the wide range of study. 

Collaborative Piano Department Recital

Bowes Center

17-year-old double bassist Maggie Carter is passionate about sharing the power and beauty of music with her audiences and bringing the unexplored sonority of the double bass as a solo instrument into the spotlight.  She first because enamored with the double bass at the age of four, received her first instrument at age nine, and currently studies with Jordan Anderson and Braizahn Jones.  Her competition successes include first prize at the 2019 International Society of Bassists 14-and-under Solo Competition, the 2020 Oregon Mozart Players Young Soloists Competition, and the 2021 Oregon ASTA Solo Competition, as well as runner-up in the 2019 and 2021 PYP Concerto Competition.  Maggie was also honored to be selected as All Classical Portland's 2022 Young Artist in Residence, a pivotal experience which allowed her to reach a wider audience and mature her artistic goals. She was the featured soloist at the Oregon Symphony's 2023 Young People's Concerts and also performed solo with the Portland Youth Philharmonic in spring 2023 as the winner of their 2022 Concerto Competition.  Maggie's other teachers and mentors include Nina DeCesare, Ira Gold, Brian Perry, and Sam Suggs, and she has been privileged to perform for double bassists such as Edgar Meyer, Joe Conyers, Paul Ellison, François Rabbath, and John Clayton, among many others.

Starburst

Reed College

The LSU Symphony Orchestra welcomes guest conductor Bruce Uchimura (Western Michigan University) to lead the orchestra in Brahms's Tragic Overture and George Walker's Lyric for Strings. Po-Yu Fang, first prize winner of the Dean's Concerto Competition, will perform Bottesini's virtuosic Bass Concerto No. 2.

LSU Symphony Orchestra with Bruce Uchimura

LSU Student Union Theater

Lon Fon Law, Double Bass

Curtis Institute of Music students perform over 100 free recitals during the semester, held on most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. Admission requires advance registration and is complimentary.

Violin, Viola, and Cello

Curtis Institute of Music

In accordance with Carnegie Mellon’s COVID-19 mitigation policies, all visitors to the university’s campus age 12 and older are required to be either fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or, if not fully vaccinated, must have received a negative COVID-19 test result within three days of the event.

Carnegie Mellon Faculty Recital: Howard, Guild, Van Hoesen & Ojeda - Featuring Music for the Double Bass

Viola, Trumpet, and Bass

Experience the buoyant energy and virtuosity of Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 (“Haffner”) along with two young virtuoso soloists. Violinist Eunice Kim and double bass phenomenon Xavier Foley will amaze you in the Bottesini Gran Duo, as well as an original composition by Foley.

Mozart’s Haffner Symphony

Shreveport Riverview Theatre

Harp, Double Bass, Flute, Violin, and Piano

Curtis Institute of Music Lenfest Hall

Yung-chiao Wei, Professor of Double Bass, presents a series of unique transcriptions for the double bass alongside guest pianist Esther Ning Yau. Selected works will include Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas and Bottesini’s Grande Allegro.

Yung-chiao Wei (Bass) and Esther Ning Yau (Piano) | Faculty Recital

Xavier Foley, double bass/Angie Zhang, piano

Seventh-day Adventist Church

A melody leads us to the heights of bliss and the depths of despair, but what are the keys to weaving together musical notes into emotional expression? Leading American composer and double bass virtuoso Xavier Foley illuminates the process of creating melodies and demonstrating their power. Mozart’s “Jupiter Symphony” is the pinnacle of classical era melody-creating genius; the Great American Songbook and Beyond connects us to a golden era of American and Mexican songwriting.

 Masters of Melody

Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center

Kavli Theatre Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

Chamber Music in the Brahms-Saal

Born into a family of musicians in Munich, her career began at an early age. Her breakthrough came at the latest with numerous prizes at the Sarasate, Paganini and Tchaikovsky competitions, which quickly took her to the world's most important stages as a soloist. As a soloist and chamber musician, Yuki Manuela Janke also inspires as concertmaster of the most traditional orchestras. Her interpretation of Richard Strauss' "Heldenleben" in the Golden Hall in Vienna with the Staatskapelle Dresden and Christian Thielemann attracted particular attention.

Giovanni Bottesini

Events

Upcoming events

May 27, 2026

Chamber Music in the Brahms-Saal · Wiener Philharmoniker

Jun 25, 2026

Chamber Music Evening N° 8 · Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

Sep 20, 2026

Bottesini · Teatro di San Carlo

Past events

Nov 27, 2025

Beyond Talent · University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

Nov 7, 2025

Concerts at the Gießen City Theatre · Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra

About

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