A ‘rising star’ of the world’s most famous concert stages is coming to the Firkušný Festival

He is spoken of as a prodigy, one of those pianists of whom only a few are born in any given generation. A protégé and pupil of Igor Levit, the twenty-five-year-old Viennese pianist Lukas Sternath possesses not only a breathtaking technique, but also great inner charm, style and a singular maturity for his age.

A young man who is a huge fan of films, literature of all kinds, philosophy and billiards, he sailed through the ARD competition four years ago, winning eight prizes, including the title of absolute winner. He is currently also the holder of the ECHO Rising Star, a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, the first-ever curator of his own chamber music series at Vienna’s Musikverein, and an increasingly frequent guest at the world’s most prestigious concert halls: London’s Wigmore Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. He will perform at the Rudolf Firkušný Piano Festival on 5 November, presenting a compelling programme of works by Franz Schubert and Franz Liszt, linked by the theme of pilgrimage.

“I feel as though Schubert’s music touches my very heart. I feel a great closeness to him; I understand Schubert’s emotions, including that certain melancholy, which is never overwhelming, but has something gentle about it. A sense of home. When I play Schubert, I feel at home,” says the pianist, who is currently a fan of Albert Camus and whose dream is to organise a global embrace. In June 2026, he captivated the Prague Spring audience not only with his performance of Schumann’s Piano Concerto, but also with an encore that hinted his autumn recital would be something truly exceptional. If you’re tempted by our recommendation and would like to come and hear this young man, who is growing into the stature of pianists such as Sviatoslav Richter, Friedrich Gulda or Grigory Sokolov, simply click here.