When Michael Korstick released his début CD in 1998 with the three last Beethoven sonatas, he was already 43 years old. The recording, however, not only provided the cornerstone for a new benchmark recording of the complete Beethoven sonatas; born in Cologne, Korstick may have started late, but he has become one of the leading pianists of our time. His wide-ranging discography has been crowned with a series of awards, including the German Record Critics’ Prize. His seventh appearance at the Festival shall receive our warmest welcome.