Showcase Festival

Classical:NEXT presents artists and ensembles from around the world who push the boundaries and extend the horizons of art music.

The Showcase Festival features a live concert series, spotlighting artists and productions across different formats. It offers a unique opportunity to experience multiple performances in a short amount of time.

The Festival features Daytime and Evening Showcases, Club Showcases, performances at the Innovation Award ceremony, and in true Berlin spirit, DJs at Kater Blau.

2025 Showcases

off C:N Showcase, Showcase

(Faroe Islands)

The Faroe Islands may be a small country, but it boasts a thriving music scene across all genres. Someone once said that the Faroe Islands must have the largest music scene on the planet per capita—and we believe that might just be true.
Presenter: Kristina Thede Johansen
with Ólavur Jakobsen
May 12, 2025, 16:00
- 16:30
Colosseum
, Kino 10

Showcase

(Ukraine/Finland)

A patchwork-like recital of extra-short contemporary solo violin works between 1 and 40 seconds long. Featuring 55 pieces from 50 composers, heavily inspired by the early punk scenes this program condenses intensities into a surge played non-stop. A bit punk, a bit crazy, a bit inebriated.
Presenter: Orest Smovzh
May 12, 2025, 17:00
- 17:30
Colosseum
, Kino 10

Film Showcase

Die Wandlung is an art film inspired by Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, visually narrating an ancient Romanian legend.
Presenter: Michael Riemer
May 13, 2025, 12:00
- 13:15
Colosseum
, Kino 7

Film Showcase

The project ‘DNA – Dance Now Always’ with Martin Fröst and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra aims to take a new look into Beethovens 7th symphony by approaching it in the context of its time as well as following it into the present.
Presenter: Hans Kipfer
May 13, 2025, 12:00
- 13:15
Colosseum
, Kino 7

Film Showcase

The project “Ophelia, the Hysterical” is a new proposal for the performance of the traditional repertoire, “Drei Lieder der Ophelia”, Op.67, by Richard Strauss, presented in three short audiovisual episodes.
Presenter: Nívea Renata Alencar de Freitas
May 13, 2025, 12:00
- 13:15
Colosseum
, Kino 7

Showcase

(Australia)

Jane Aubourg is a composer, violinist and zine maker based on Dhawaral Country (Wollongong, NSW Australia). In her major solo project she composes and performs on Anita Johnson’s sculpture Play Me Mend Me.
Presenter: Jane Aubourg
May 13, 2025, 15:30
- 16:00
Colosseum
, Kino 10

Showcase

(Indonesia/UK)

Aris Daryono is an Indonesian composer, traditional gamelan musician, and educator based in London. His music is deeply rooted in his gamelan heritage, which he explores and integrates with Western ensembles and electronic elements to craft distinctive soundscapes.
Presenter: Aris Daryono
May 13, 2025, 16:30
- 17:00
Colosseum
, Kino 10

Showcase

(UK/Ireland)

A spellbinding collaboration between two musical powerhouses.
Presenter: Catrin Finch Presenter: Aoife Ní Bhriain
May 13, 2025, 17:30
- 18:00
Colosseum
, Kino 10

Showcase

(Brazil)

Brazilian composer Rafael Macedo has performed with artists such as Hermeto Pascoal and UAKTI. Talvez uma dansa is the fourth original project by Minas Gerais composer, released in 2023, by the record label Rocinante.
Presenter: Rafael Macedo
May 13, 2025, 20:00
- 20:30
Säälchen

Showcase

(UK)

The Komuna Collective is a group of artists, DJs and musicians committed to experimentation.
Presenter: Komuna Collective
May 13, 2025, 21:00
- 21:30
Säälchen

Showcase

(USA)

Formed in 2020 in New York, the Anzû Quartet is an all-star ensemble dedicated to the music of our time and the recent canon.
Presenter: Anzû Quartet
May 13, 2025, 22:00
- 22:30
Säälchen

Showcase

(Germany)

Roman Rofalski, pianist and composer, has rooted his musical life in the urge for constant change. Always searching for new frontiers, he experiments with various styles, aiming to remove the artificial boundaries between composed classical music, improvised modern jazz and contemporary electronics.
Presenter: Roman Rofalski
May 13, 2025, 22:30
- 23:15
Kater Blau

Showcase

(Turkey/Germany)

Composer, pianist and electronic artist Kaan Bulak and trumpet virtuoso Simon Höfele present their sonically immersing album “No Clouds in Haraz” in a program with their own works framed by excursions to Giacinto Scelsi and improvisations.
Presenter: Kaan Bulak Presenter: Simon Höfele
May 13, 2025, 23:15
- 23:45
Kater Blau

Showcase

(Germany)

Roman Rofalski, pianist and composer, has rooted his musical life in the urge for constant change. Always searching for new frontiers, he experiments with various styles, aiming to remove the artificial boundaries between composed classical music, improvised modern jazz and contemporary electronics.
Presenter: Roman Rofalski
May 13, 2025, 23:45
- 00:15
Kater Blau

Showcase

(Switzerland/Spain)

AIR is Roberto Maqueda’s first solo project, inspired by the multi-layering concept inherent to percussion. This project combines amplified instruments with solenoid valve modules, creating analog drum machines.
Presenter: Roberto Maqueda
May 14, 2025, 00:15
- 00:45
Kater Blau

Showcase

Tarozzi-Walker Duo (Italy)

A contemporary re-interpretation of female folksongs of northern Italy.
Presenter: Silvia Tarozzi Presenter: Deborah Walker
May 14, 2025, 12:00
- 12:30
Colosseum
, Kino 10

Film Showcase

This series follows Brussels Philharmonic bassist Thomas Fiorini through the process of realising his lifelong dream of recording and performing a concerto for bass guitar.
Presenter: Sonja Kochoutina
May 14, 2025, 12:00
- 13:30
Colosseum
, Kino 7

Film Showcase

PNO (Prepared New Objects) is a contemporary music performance and experimental theater piece born from a sociological exploration and reflection on the piano.
Presenter: Kim Jaehoon
May 14, 2025, 12:00
- 13:30
Colosseum
, Kino 7

Film Showcase

In May 2023, parallel to the official Mahler Festival in Leipzig, KLASSIK underground presented the “Wunderhorn Festival” in the underground Moritzbastei next door to the Gewandhaus.
Presenter: Tahlia Petrosian
May 14, 2025, 12:00
- 13:30
Colosseum
, Kino 7

Showcase

NYX

(UK/NZ)

NYX is a London-based collective of artists working at the intersection of choral music and electronic music performance. Led by music director Sian O’Gorman, their work explores connections between the body, architecture, and nature to create music that bridges the ancient and the futuristic.
Presenter: NYX
May 14, 2025, 13:00
- 13:30
Colosseum
, Kino 10

Innovation Awards, Showcase

(Ukraine)

DZ’OB is an electro-acoustic ensemble led by Oleksii Badin, hailing from the Ukrainian city of Dnipro and established in 2014. The group fuses classical and contemporary electronic music genres such as IDM and techno creating a distinctive and eclectic sound. Their music seamlessly bridges the realms of Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, and Baroque classical traditions, resulting in a truly unique auditory experience.
Presenter: DZ’OB
May 14, 2025, 18:00
- 19:30
Colosseum
, Kino 10

Showcase

(Taiwan)

Twincussion delivers dynamic percussion performances that seamlessly blend Taiwanese folk music, classical pieces, and electronic elements.
Presenter: Jen-Ting Chien Presenter: Jen-Yu Chien
May 14, 2025, 20:30
- 21:00
Säälchen

off C:N Showcase

Berlin Club Stage

Dive into the mesmerising soundscape of Alex Stolze’s latest record “רעש ורוח, – Raash ve Ruach”: this work weaves together the contrasts of contemporary classical music and electronica, where the violin takes center stage, singing in place of words during a time that often feels speechless.
Presenter: Alex Stolze
May 14, 2025, 21:00
- 21:30
Kater Blau

Showcase

(Iceland)

The Icelandic flute septet viibra performs four works from their celebrated debut album viibra, released last year, which explores the possibilities of expanded flute playing.
Presenter: viibra
May 14, 2025, 21:30
- 22:00
Säälchen

off C:N Showcase

Berlin Club Stage

Johannes Motschmann’s music combines new compositional techniques with the raw energy of older, analogue synthesizers, creating an unmistakable sound in the process.
Presenter: Johannes Motschmann
May 14, 2025, 22:00
- 22:30
Kater Blau

Showcase

(Hungary)

The new production of Bartók Prize winning jazz and contemporary singer Veronika Harcsa, harpist Anastasia Razvalyaeva and composer Bálint Bolcsó translates Schubert’s music into borderless musical language.
Presenter: Schubert NOW!
May 14, 2025, 22:30
- 23:00
Säälchen

Showcase

(UK)

Gabriel Prokofiev is a composer of classical and electronic music, and the founder of Nonclassical record label and events (launched in 2004). Through Nonclassical, he is one of the leading proponents of presenting classical music in non-traditional venues, and pioneered the concept of bringing DJ sets to late-night classical gigs.
Presenter: Gabriel Prokofiev
May 14, 2025, 22:30
- 23:15
Kater Blau

off C:N Showcase

Berlin Club Stage

The renowned musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist STUDNITZKY presents a new, electronic interpretation from his moving collaboration with the Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra MEMENTO ODESA. The ECHO Jazz and OPUS Klassik awardwinner embodies genre-spanning Sound Art across jazz, classical and electronic music.
Presenter: Sebastian Studnitzky
May 14, 2025, 23:00
- 23:30
Kater Blau

Showcase

(Germany)

The arcis_collective reimagines chamber music by fusing it with the dance of today into a joint performing act. With the club production Live ❤️ Arcis, the group turns the venue into an immersive space and an up-close experience.
Presenter: arcis_collective
May 14, 2025, 23:15
- 23:45
Kater Blau

Showcase

(UK)

Gabriel Prokofiev is a composer of classical and electronic music, and the founder of Nonclassical record label and events (launched in 2004). Through Nonclassical, he is one of the leading proponents of presenting classical music in non-traditional venues, and pioneered the concept of bringing DJ sets to late-night classical gigs.
Presenter: Gabriel Prokofiev
May 14, 2025, 23:45
- 00:15
Kater Blau

About Showcases

What is a Showcase?

Classical:NEXT Showcases are selected by an international jury of experts to present a wide range of high-quality artists and productions in every category from early to contemporary, traditional to experimental. Soloists and small ensembles as well as large ensembles, opera productions or musical theatre projects can be presented through a showcase concert.

Late-night showcases offer the chance to see outstanding NEXT artists perform at Holzmarkt 25 in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere, together with Classical:NEXT DJs.

The Opening Artists take the stage at the Opening Ceremony of Classical:NEXT, where the event kicks off! This gala celebrates the NEXT music and fresh ideas, setting the scene for discovery. Stay tuned for updates!