Johanna Summer and Franziska Hölscher blend jazz and classical music

Encounters between jazz and classical music have mostly remained marginal phenomena in music history—often perceived as exotic exceptions. Names like Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, or Uri Caine mark such intersections without fundamentally altering established structures. This makes it all the more remarkable how jazz pianist Johanna Summer dissolves these boundaries and playfully leaves the labels of both worlds behind. Her artistic concept is based on improvising classical compositions into the present. In doing so, she always stays true to the composer’s distinctive style without ever resorting to mere reproduction. Her improvisations are concise, coherent, and at the same time unpredictable—often resembling newly emerging compositions that develop in the moment. Each performance thus becomes a unique dialogue between past and present, original and transformation. With her program “Dialogues” and the album released on ACT in the spring of 2026, Johanna Summer continues the concept of collectively exploring and retelling classical works: For this, she joins forces with violinist Franziska Hölscher in a live performance at the Bergson.

Summer’s approach has also impressed star pianist Igor Levit, who invited her in 2023 and 2024 to perform at the “Klavier-Fest”—a festival he curated as part of the renowned Lucerne Festival: “Johanna Summer is an outstanding jazz pianist. She is so centered and grounded, handles the material with such confidence and freedom, and yet always finds her own voice,” says Levit.

Her self-image as a pianist allows for an effortless transition between the classical concert hall and the jazz club. Jazz pianist Joachim Kühn aptly describes this as “music full of imagination and beyond category.”

Every evening is unique—a listening experience full of surprises and a lively sense of intimacy.

Johanna Summer: Piano

Franziska Hölscher: Violin

Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
Start: 7:00 p.m.
End: 8:15 p.m.

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