Julius Asal (piano, exclusive artist of Deutsche Grammophon)
Biography, Audio/Video, Photos, Discography, Concerto Repertoire, Programmes
www.julius-asal.com/
Biography
Praised by Menahem Pressler for his “uniquely beautiful sound and special sonority“, German pianist Julius Asal is quickly establishing himself as one of the promising performers of his generation.
In October 2023, Deutsche Grammophon has announced the exclusive signing with Julius
Asal. Moreover, he was recently selected as a BBC New Generation Artist from September 2024 for two years.
The young pianist, named as Rising Star 2024 by Classic FM, is a regular guest at international festivals (Oxford Piano Festival, Rheingau Music Festival, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, L‘Esprit du Piano Bordeaux, Davos Festival, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Gustav Mahler Festival Toblach etc.) and has performed in prestigious concert halls such as Wigmore Hall London, Musikverein Vienna, Suntory Hall Tokyo and Laeiszhalle Hamburg.
Julius Asal grew up as the eldest son of a musical family in the Taunus near Frankfurt am Main. His first encounters with the piano occurred even before he started talking. As a toddler, he improvised freely and played by ear on the instrument. It was only years later that he received formal lessons and later studied at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin and at Kronberg Academy. In recent years, Asal has been particularly influenced by his mentors Eldar Nebolsin and Sir András Schiff. He also received artistic inspiration from musicians such as Alfred Brendel, Gidon Kremer, and Menahem Pressler.
In spring 2022, Julius Asal’s debut album was released by the Spanish label IBS Classical featuring works by Sergei Prokofiev as well as Asal‘s own arrangements from the ballet Romeo and Juliet, which gained international recognition.
The release of his first album for Deutsche Grammophon, “Scriabin-Scarlatti” is set for 2024. Meanwhile, at the beginning of the year, Asal was involved in further projects in collaboration with DG, such as the US campaign for World Sleep Day, for which the pianist recorded an improvisation. For World Piano Day 2024, Deutsche Grammophon released Julius Asal’s version of Gustav Holst’s “Mars,” for which he modified the composer’s piano duo version and expanded it with a third piano part.
The ability to improvise and thus maintain an almost native-like approach to the piano has remained with him to this day and is evident at times in his concerts; such as in October 2023 at the Yellow Lounge of Deutsche Grammophon, where the pianist stepped in at short notice with an innovative concept that combines classical works with improvisations. His interpretations and the composition of his programs were described by the French newspaper Le Monde as “enchanting uniqueness,” with the headline, “The secret and subtle alliances of Julius Asal.”
The ability to improvise and thus maintain an almost native-like approach to the piano has remained with him to this day and is evident at times in his concerts; such as in October 2023 at the Yellow Lounge of Deutsche Grammophon, where the pianist stepped in at short notice with an innovative concept that combines classical works with improvisations. His interpretations and the composition of his programs were described by the French newspaper Le Monde as “enchanting uniqueness,” with the headline, “The secret and subtle alliances of Julius Asal.”
Audio/Video
Discography
D. SCARLATTI: Sonate für Klavier c-Moll, K. 56
A. SCRIABIN: 24 Préludes, op. 11: Nr. 21 B-Dur. Andante
Links to the relevant streaming platforms on DG Website: click
photos: Michael Reinicke
Photos
Concerto-Repertoire
J. S. Bach
Piano Concerto in d minor, BWV 1052
B. Bartók
Piano Concerto no 3 in E major, Sz. 119
L. v. Beethoven
Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, Op.15
Piano Concerto No 4 in G major Op. 58
J. Brahms
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83
F. Chopin
Piano Concerto No. 2 in f minor, Op. 21
E. Grieg
Piano Concerto in a minor, Op. 16
W. Lutoslawski
Paganini Variations for piano and orchestra
F. Mendelssohn
Piano Concerto No. 1 in g minor, Op. 25
W. A. Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, K 459
Piano Concerto No. 20 in d minor, K 466
Klavierkonzert Nr. 22, E flat major, K 482
S. Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
S. Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 2 in c minor, Op. 18
M. Ravel
Piano Concerto in G major M83
R. Schumann
Piano Concerto in a minor, Op. 54
C. Schumann
Piano Concerto in a minor, Op. 7
A. Scriabin
Prométhée – Le Poème du feu, Op. 60
Prométhée – Le Poème du feu, Op. 60
Piano Concerto in F sharp minor, Op. 20
P. I. Tchaikovsky
Piano Concerto No. 1 in b flat minor, Op. 23
…
Programmes
Programme 1
S. Prokofiev
Pensées, Op.62
R. Schumann
Kreisleriana, Op.16
Intermission
R. Schumann
Ghost variations WoO 24
S. Prokofiev
Romeo & Julia (Excerpts)
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Programme 2
B. Bartók
Suite for Piano, Op. 14
J. Brahms
3 Intermezzi, Op. 117
B. Bartók
3 Burlesques, Op. 8c Sz. 47
Intermission
J. Brahms
Piano Sonata No. 3 in f minor, Op. 5
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Programme 3
L. v. Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 1 in f minor, Op. 2/1
C. Franck
Prelude, Chorale and Fugue, Op. 21
Intermission (or without)
C. Debussy
Preludes (selection)
L. v. Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 32 in c minor, Op. 111
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Programme 4
L. v. Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 1 in f minor, Op. 2/1
A. Scriabin
Piano Sonata No. 1 in f minor, Op. 6
Intermission
J. Brahms
Piano Sonata No. 3 in f minor, Op. 5
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