Oliver Kern Delights the Čapljina Audience with His Piano Recital “Fantasies and Dances”

As part of the 10th anniversary edition of the ARDEA International Classical Music Masterclass 2026, renowned German pianist and professor Oliver Kern performed a piano recital at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Čapljina.

Entitled “Fantasies and Dances”, the concert brought some of the finest works of the piano repertoire to the Čapljina audience. Oliver Kern once again demonstrated the exceptional technical command, artistic maturity and expressive interpretation for which he is recognised on the international music scene.

Kern has been associated with ARDEA for many years, combining his concert appearances with masterclasses in which he shares his extensive artistic and pedagogical experience with young pianists. His return to Čapljina was therefore particularly significant for this year’s participants, who had the opportunity to work directly with an internationally acclaimed artist and educator.

The recital opened with Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, “Quasi una fantasia”, widely known as the “Moonlight Sonata”. This was followed by Carl Maria von Weber’s Invitation to the Dance and a selection of works by Frédéric Chopin – Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1, Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 63 No. 3, and Polonaise in C-sharp minor, Op. 26 No. 1. The programme continued with works by Alexander Scriabin – Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 38 and Fantasy in B minor, Op. 28.

A special dimension of the evening came from Kern’s direct interaction with the audience. Throughout the recital, he introduced individual works and offered insight into their musical character and context, adding an engaging educational element to the concert experience.

Oliver Kern received his musical education in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. During his international career, he has won numerous prestigious awards and performed in concert halls across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Today, he serves as Professor of Piano at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt.

His long-standing involvement with ARDEA is an important part of the festival’s collaboration with distinguished international artists and educators, providing young musicians with valuable knowledge and experience while giving the Čapljina audience the opportunity to encounter leading figures of the international classical music scene.

The 10th anniversary edition of ARDEA 2026 continues with further masterclasses, concerts and final performances by its participants.

Below, you can view a photo gallery from Oliver Kern’s piano recital.

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