On May 28, 2025, the Eppstein Piano Festival celebrated its 15th anniversary. This event, initiated by Anna Victoria Tyshayeva, began with the creative idea that Pastor Heike Schuffenhauer had 15 years ago as a piano student in Frankfurt. Artistic director and founder Anna Victoria Tyshayeva is an international concert soloist and chamber musician who won first prize at the Alexander Scriabin International Piano Competition in Paris. In addition to many performances in Germany, she has also performed in Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine.
At the Eppstein Piano Festival, idyllically located in the Taunus with its half-timbered houses and the imposing castle, Ms. Tyshayeva led the audience through the world of romantic music. Franz Schubert’s four improvisations gradually changed from initial hesitation to boldness, while in Robert Schumann’s Vienna Carnival the tension ranged from gentle waltz to imposing marches.
The Italian pianist Gianluca Luisi interpreted compositions by Bach and Chopin and impressed the audience with his virtuosity. A highlight was the solo performance by the Chinese pianist Zhang Haiou, who performed pieces by Bach, Liszt and Ravel. Pierre-Laurent Boucharlat presented three Beethoven sonatas. The Calliope Duet (Artashes Stamboltsyan violin, Sarah Stamboltsyan piano) performed a selection of pieces from Bach to Wagner.
