Press Kit: General and Artistic Director

Christoph Lieben-Seutter is General and Artistic Director of the Elbphilharmonie and the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg. Born and raised in Vienna, he began his career in his home city and in Zurich, before being appointed as Director of the Wiener Konzerthaus and the Wien Modern Music Festival in 1996. In 2007, he relocated to Hamburg to oversee preparations for the Elbphilharmonie’s operational launch.

Since its opening in 2017, the Elbphilharmonie quickly made its mark as a major cultural landmark, firmly establishing Hamburg as a leading international city of music. Christoph Lieben-Seutter is responsible for curating a diverse and world-class concert programme with over 1,200 events per season at the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle. Hamburg regularly welcomes the world’s most prestigious orchestras, as well as leading figures in the world of classical music. Outstanding musicians from a wide range of other musical genres also perform here. The Elbphilharmonie‘s extensive music education programme has also garnered global recognition.

During the course of his directorship, Christoph Lieben-Seutter has established the annual »Hamburg International Music Festival«, which spans several weeks, and the renowned »Reflektor« series, where prominent artists curate multi-day programmes at the Elbphilharmonie.

In spring 2022, his tenure as General and Artistic Director of the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle was extended until 2029.

He is married and the father of three children.