Elbphilharmonie Innerview: Sào Soulez Larivière

Inwards – in the »Elbphilharmonie Innerviews«, artists explore the Elbphilharmonie in their own unique ways, letting their thoughts run free. The result: special insights into the spaces of the concert hall and a rare opportunity to get to know the artists personally beyond the stage.

»In this ever-moving, ever-changing world, diversity is what drives our world forward,« says Sào Soulez Larivière. »In the heart of this vibrant harbour, every wave carries whispers of distant echoes,« he enthuses with a view of the Elbe, »something that also mirrors my roots and my own journey.« In the Elbphilharmonie Innerview, the Dutch-French violist talks about cosmopolitan attitudes and the unifying power of music, about his visions and the special features of his instrument.

The Elbphilharmonie’s »Innerviews« series is supported by our Principal Sponsor Julius Bär.

»Music is a universal language that connects me with very different places and people,« says Sào Soulez Larivière, who describes himself as »a cosmopolitan at heart«. Born in Paris in 1998, he first trained at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England, then moved to Berlin later to study with star violist Tabea Zimermann.

Concert tours have been taking the award-winning violist all over the world for some time now. He is grateful for the contact with different cultures that these trips have afforded him: »Each experience, each new encounter, adds a layer to my understanding of the world, enriching my perspective and fostering a deep appreciation for the richness of human expression.«

He experiences music's power to connect people not only in audience contact as a unique opportunity for emotional communication, but also in playing music together with others: »At the heart of the viola’s identity lies chamber music,« explains Sào Soulez Larivière, who has also played a lot with his sister, violinist Cosima Soulez Larivière, since childhood. In chamber music, he encounters the essence of human interaction: »You have to learn to listen with great care, constantly adjusting
your own playing in real-time. This embodies for me the very essence of communication: active listening, empathy, and honest response.«

The viola as a solo instrument has long been overshadowed by the violin and cello, but for Sào Soulez Larivière it harbours a special potential to advance not only its own specific repertoire, but the world of music in general. »It's about having the courage to experiment and about discovering new creative paths that push the confines of traditional classical music norms,« he says.

With his wide-ranging artistic openness and with numerous commissions to his name, the Berlin-based musician has already become one of the most important ambassadors for his instrument – and has also been passing on his thirst for discovery as a lecturer at the Salzburg Mozarteum since 2023. He believes that »music itself can spark curiosity«. And that is a great gift that he wants to share.

Sào Soulez Larivière sees the Elbphilharmonie as the ideal place for this: »Right on the waterfront, this concert hall emerges as a harbour where storytelling sets sail.« He will tell one of these stories himself when he returns to the Recital Hall as a European Concert Hall Organisation »Rising Star« in January 2025 with an extensive solo recital. The programme features a brand new work by Julia Wolfe, spherical sounds, technical virtuosity and innovative music exploring the many facets of the viola – accompanied in some pieces by the successful percussionist Christoph Sietzen.