Exception, talent, Wunderkind. These are the first associations when the Finn Klaus Mäkelä (*1996) is described. For hardly any musical profession in the classical music scene is more associated with maturity than that of a conductor. Therefore, Mäkelä’s appearance on the stages of this world turns many things upside down. Young, thoughtful, lively and with an impressive presence, the conductor has dedicated himself to music. At the age of less than 30, he has reached the top of several renowned orchestras: chief conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, music director of the Orchestre de Paris and future chief conductor of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra. Although he will not assume this post until 2027, he is already familiarising himself with the musicians as Artistic Partner. He can also be heard as a guest conductor with the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony and New York Philharmonic.
The large footprints of his predecessors – von Karajan, Sir Solti, Barenboim, Järvi and Harding, to name but a few – do not seem to frighten him in any way. Rather, he wants to explore his own experiences and feelings through the music and, equally, to allow the audience to do the same. So Klaus Mäkelä is a conductor who is sure to make a big impact in the future!

Christian Thielemann has been one of the great German conductors of our time for years. Born in 1959 in what was then West Berlin, he began his professional career in his native city at the Deutsche Oper under none other than Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989). Via various stations in Karlsruhe and Düsseldorf, among others, he moved to Nuremberg in 1988 as - at that time - the youngest General Music Director. Nine years later, Thielemann returned to Berlin to the Deutsche Oper, then led the Munich Philharmonic from 2004 to 2011, in each case also in the positions of general music director. Thielemann has been involved with the Bayreuth Festival since 2010. In 2015, he was appointed music director there. In the 2012/13 season, he moved to Dresden to join the Sächsische Staatskapelle, and in 2013 he additionally took on the position of artistic director at the Salzburg Easter Festival. Christian Thielemann maintains close ties with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras.
Thielemann has received numerous awards and honors for his achievements, including his honorary doctorate from the Hochschule für Musik ´Franz Liszt` Weimar, the Richard Wagner Prize, the Prize of the Foundation for the Promotion of the Semper Opera, and honorary membership of the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Gustav Mahler Association Hamburg.

Christian Thielemann has been one of the great German conductors of our time for years. Born in 1959 in what was then West Berlin, he began his professional career in his native city at the Deutsche Oper under none other than Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989). Via various stations in Karlsruhe and Düsseldorf, among others, he moved to Nuremberg in 1988 as - at that time - the youngest General Music Director. Nine years later, Thielemann returned to Berlin to the Deutsche Oper, then led the Munich Philharmonic from 2004 to 2011, in each case also in the positions of general music director. Thielemann has been involved with the Bayreuth Festival since 2010. In 2015, he was appointed music director there. In the 2012/13 season, he moved to Dresden to join the Sächsische Staatskapelle, and in 2013 he additionally took on the position of artistic director at the Salzburg Easter Festival. Christian Thielemann maintains close ties with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras.
Thielemann has received numerous awards and honors for his achievements, including his honorary doctorate from the Hochschule für Musik ´Franz Liszt` Weimar, the Richard Wagner Prize, the Prize of the Foundation for the Promotion of the Semper Opera, and honorary membership of the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Gustav Mahler Association Hamburg.