"I've always felt at home in Austria. And yet, the Persian side of my family gave me a chance to grow up with two cultures,” says 26-year-old Kian Soltani - who was born in Bregenz to parents who came to Austria from Iran - in the notes accompanying his debut album Home. The young cellist's playing is sensitive and personal, flexible and colourful, imaginative and poetic. His name became known to the wider public at the age of 19, when he performed at the Musikverein in Vienna and the Schubertiade festival in Hohenems. At the age of 21, he won the International Paulo Cello Competition in Helsinki, and critics hailed him as "the best of the new generation”.
Later Soltani joined the West-Eastern Divan Orchester led by Daniel Barenboim. The young musician's playing made such an impression that the famed pianist and conductor formed a trio comprising himself, his son Michael Barenboim on violin, and Soltani on cello. The ensemble performed Beethoven's complete piano trios during the 2017/2018 season at the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin.
Together with his piano accompanist Aaron Pilsan (also his recording partner), Soltani will perform a truly unusual contemporary work in the shape of a new composition by Austrian jazz pianist David Helbock.
In Festival Square after the concert, visitors will be able to participate in a meet and greet moderated by Endre Tóth, where they can chat with the artists appearing in the concert and request autographs.

Nominated for the Rising Stars programme by: Wiener Konzerthaus & Musikverein Wien

Co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest