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Julian Prégardien has been the new Artistic Director of the Heidelberger Frühling Liedzentrum since the beginning of 2026. The renowned Lied singer is committed to further developing the Lied as a space for encounters and participation. His appointment places the further development of the Liedzentrum in the hands of the next generation.
The Liedzentrum was founded in 2016 as a competence center for the Lied. The Heidelberger Frühling Liedakademie under the artistic direction of Thomas Hampson and the Heidelberger Frühling Liedfestival are united under its roof.
In addition to the further development of the Liedakademie under the direction of Thomas Hampson, the Liedzentrum aims to be a lively place of artistic production and networking through additional initiatives and activities. The diversity of Lied and its significance for the international music landscape should be made visible, new connections within and outside the Lied scene should be created and spaces for the participation of a wider audience should be opened up.
Julian Prégardien, Artistic Director Heidelberger Frühling Liedzentrum
"Singing songs, touching people with them, inspiring them, bringing them together and exchanging ideas about them - all of this is a true elixir of life for me and a never-ending source. Songs enable encounters and open up spaces for togetherness - that's what I want to do as Artistic Director of the Liedzentrum. Together with the Heidelberger Frühling team, in my new role I will seek to engage with urban society, invite curiosity and openness and promote cultural education. Working closely with my esteemed colleague Thomas Hampson, it is also important to me that the excellent graduates of the Liedakademie, which is unique in the German-speaking world, are given more opportunities to perform and that these young talents carry on the mission of inspiring and bringing people together through song."
Thorsten Schmidt, Artistic Director Heidelberger Frühling
"I am delighted that we have been able to appoint Julian Prégardien as Artistic Director of the Heidelberger Frühling Liedzentrum. He is not only one of the outstanding Lied singers of our time, but has also positioned and promoted the Lied in the German musical landscape with his initiatives. As an excellent communicator, he conveys his ideas to a traditional audience and also reaches the audience of tomorrow with his creative approaches. Together, we are now setting out to expand the Liedzentrum as an independent institution with national appeal and to lead the Lied into the future."