Rostock, 15 July 2024 – Guests sailing with A-ROSA on the Danube can now enjoy unique onboard concerts by highly talented students from the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts (mdw), as part of the river cruise line’s new ‘Young Artists Programme’.

Tapping into the musical heritage of the Danube, and Vienna’s reputation as the capital of classical music, guests will be able to enjoy evening performances onboard to showcase the young artists while the ships are docked in the city. The artists cover a diverse spectrum of instruments and range from solo performers to string quartets, many of whom have already been honoured with international awards. Entertainment continues to be a key focus for A-ROSA and this exclusive concert programme aims to highlight some of the most promising young talent.

Fadi Gaziri, Entertainment Manager at A-ROSA has collaborated with Ioanna Mitu, a highly respected soprano soloist in the classical music scene to drive this exciting project to fruition. He comments: “Our Young Artists Programme is really unique and unparalleled in the river cruise industry. We are incredibly proud to feature such outstanding musicians, each with an impressive international pedigree. Our goal is to provide our guests with a true highlight of their journey and one that reflects the classical music tradition and its capital, Vienna.”

Examples of artists collaborating with A-ROSA include a violin and piano duo, Zuzanna Budzyńska (violin) and Szymon Ogryzek (piano) whose repertoire includes popular classical masterpieces alongside a variety of works by international composers. The young polish pair both attend the mdw and have won prizes on several continents already, including the Student’s Nobel Prize from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education for Ogryzek. 

“I am a big fan of the Young Artists and have had many points of contact with classical music since childhood, including as a choir singer. That’s why I’m delighted to see young people pursuing this education. We are very happy to offer them our stage and our guests as an audience. Our cooperation with the international music academies is a matter very close to my heart,” comments A-ROSA CEO Jörg Eichler. “The city of Vienna is not least known for its important role in the history of music, and the performances by the mdw students offer a unique opportunity to experience local music traditions and the cultural diversity of countless other countries and their great and lesser-known composers up close on board with us,” Eichler ends.