“The piano seemed to tell him a secret.“
“He will surely be one of the figures of the 21st century to be reckoned with.“
“This pianist is a discovery – and it is rare for such clarity to emerge so immediately in the first notes.“
“The secret and subtle alliances of Julius Asal.“
Praised by Menahem Pressler for his “uniquely beautiful sound and special sonority“, German pianist Julius Asal is quickly establishing himself as one of the promising performers of his generation.
In October 2023, Deutsche Grammophon announced the exclusive signing with Julius Asal. Moreover, he was recently selected as a BBC New Generation Artist. The young pianist, named as Rising Star 2024 by Classic FM, has performed in prestigious concert halls such as Wigmore Hall London, Musikverein Vienna, Suntory Hall Tokyo, Seoul Arts Center, and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. He is also a regular guest at major festivals, including Oxford Piano Festival, Klavierfestival Ruhr, Rheingau Musik Festival, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, Gustav Mahler Festival Toblach, L‘Esprit du Piano Bordeaux, and the Piano aux Jacobins Toulouse.
In March 2025, he received the Terence Judd-Hallé Award and became the first-ever ASMF BBC New Generation Associate of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Also in 2025, he made his debut as a soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Julius Asal’s debut album (2022) was released by the Spanish label IBS Classical featuring works by Sergei Prokofiev as well as Asal‘s own arrangements from the ballet “Romeo and Juliet”, which gained international recognition.
His first album for Deutsche Grammophon, “Scriabin-Scarlatti,” was released in spring 2024. Meanwhile, the pianist was involved in further projects in collaboration with DG, such as the US campaign for World Sleep Day, for which he recorded an improvisation. For World Piano Day 2024, Deutsche Grammophon released Julius Asal’s version of Gustav Holst’s “Mars,” for which he modified the composer’s piano duo version and expanded it with a third piano part.
Improvising and thus an almost native-like access to the piano are also evident in his concerts; for example, in 2024 at his debut at the Seoul Arts Center and as part of the Yellow Lounge in October 2023, where the pianist stepped in at short notice with an innovative concept that combines classical works with improvisations.
His interpretations and the composition of his programs were described by the French newspaper Le Monde as “enchanting uniqueness,” with the headline, “The secret and subtle alliances of Julius Asal.“
Julius studied at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin and the Kronberg Academy. Among his most important influences were his mentors, the pianists Eldar Nebolsin and Sir András Schiff, as well as the violinist Gidon Kremer.
General Management
Reinicke Artists
Ludwigkirchplatz 11
D-10719 Berlin
Michael Reinicke
Managing Director
Public Relations
Deutsche Grammophon GmbH
Mühlenstraße 25
D-10243 Berlin
Martin Goldyn
Junior Manager Promotion & Label Communications
martin.goldyn@umusic.com
