Europe, North America, Asia: Lukas Sternath travelled the world as a youngster — but not yet as a pianist. Back then, he wore a sailor suit from the Vienna Boys’ Choir. “It was a formative, exciting time,” Sternath recall s. It was formative because “as a child, you learn to breathe with the music naturally.”. And exciting? Of course, because of all the travelling and the spotlight.

This ended for the time being when his voice began to break. But Sternath had already found a new destination for his musical talent – the piano. Laurels soon followed his training at the Vienna University of Music. In 2022, at age 21, Sternath won first prize and seven other awards at the renowned ARD competition. How did this victory feel? As if the young pianist had really “arrived” in the international music business? Sternath prefers to put it another way: “I hope that I never finally ‘arrive’ anywhere – it would mean stagnation for me. I would rather say that my journey has begun with this success.”

Igor Levit, a world star, who could be called Sternath’s travelling companion, is of the utmost importance on this journet. The German virtuoso has taught the young Viennese at the University of Music, Drama and Media in Hanover since 2021 and supports him with practical advice. “Igor is a huge influence,” enthuses Sternath. Levit also helps him “to deal with the classical music business properly and to make sure he doesn’t lose himself”. These tips are worth their weight in gold for the up-and-coming Austrian musician who doesn’t want to burn himself out quickly. “I want to be still able to play the piano in 70 years and enjoy my profession.”

Nevertheless, he is working determinedly on his career. Since last season, his name has been well established on stages between Lisbon and Stockholm, London and Katowice: The Association of European Concert Houses has named Sternath a “Rising Star”, enabling him to perform across the continent. In Austria? The young pianist has long enjoyed a reputation there. Incidentally, his debut at the Musikverein came particularly early: He first sat at the keys in 2015.

In the 2025/26 season, Sternath now presents himself in four concerts: the virtuoso can be heard not only in a powerful line-up with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Rachmaninov’s Fourth Piano Concerto. He also accompanies a lieder recital – a genre that remains close to his heart after his childhood as a singer – takes on the piano part in a trio concert and also presents a solo program rich in contrasts: The A major Sonata by the late Schubert meets Prokofiev’s complex Eighth Sonata from the Second World War.

A concert series that illustrates Sternath’s love of diversity in terms of instrumentation and style. Speaking of which, does Sternath have a favourite era? Viennese classical, romantic, modern? No. “Only recently, I juxtaposed new music with romantic works in a concert. It doesn’t matter to me when a piece was written. Of course, it is interesting to know the context of a composition and the spirit of the time. But a piece of music can only be created when it is heard. In this respect, all music is new, immediate – whether written 200 years ago or two days ago.”