At the start of a new academic year, the Fondazione Accademia Internazionale di Imola “Incontri con il Maestro” is pleased to present the project “Performing Brahms. Comparing methodological approaches”.

The initiative seals three years of activity of the equivalent Degree courses offered by the Academy, consolidating its guiding principle: to pursue excellence and support the talent of young musicians by nurturing their critical spirit, in a virtuous circle of instrumental practice and scientific research; fostering a sense of belonging to a community that meets, questions, rediscovers its roots and plans for the future.

On the performance side, a project to study Brahmsian practice was carried out, culminating in the recording of his complete piano works and a selection of chamber works. Public performances are also offered in collaboration with Italian concert organisations. The partnership with Teatro Comunale di Bologna has enabled the performance of two concerts for piano and orchestra with the Teatro Orchestra, conducted by Martijn Dendievel and with Elizaveta Coroli and Konstantin Emelianov as pianists.

A particularly important part of the project is the international Conference that will take place at Rocca Sforzesca in Imola, home of the Academy, from 14^th to 16^th November 2025, sponsored by the Brahms-Institut in Lübeck, the German Historical Institute in Rome, the Dipartimento delle Arti of Bologna’s University, the Fondazione Accademia Chigiana in Siena and the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. In the wake of the widespread positive feedback received for the Schumann initiative in 2022, and confirming the Imola Academy’s particular investment in linking scientific research and artistic performance, the upcoming conference is expected to be very well attended and rich in authoritative figures internationally: Walter Frisch from Columbia University in New York, one of the leading experts on Austro-German music of the 19^th and 20^th centuries and one of the foremost scholars of Brahms, will open the conference.

Afterwards, professors and scholars from leading institutions in the United States, the Netherlands, Finland and Germany will alternate with scholars from numerous Italian academic institutions — universities and AFAM — alongside the team of professors of historical-theoretical subjects at the Imola Academy. The “polyphonic” dialogue will revolve around multiple themes and lines of research — from historical-aesthetic to analytical, philological and historical-interpretative approaches — offering opportunities for reflection and in-depth analysis of the many aspects of Brahms’ musical production.

Scholars and musicians, teachers and students from the academic community, experts and enthusiasts who wish to participate can look forward to a new autumn “encounter” with the musician who opened up new paths for progress, while embracing and preserving the legacy of Western musical tradition: Johannes Brahms.

The Academy’s initiatives are carried out in collaboration with Città di Imola and with the support of the Ministero della Cultura and Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Imola.