“In this unpredictable and constantly changing world, diversity is the main thing that drives us forwards,” claims Sào Soulez Larivière. “In this vibrant harbour, every wave brings a greeting from afar,” he gushes, while looking out over the Elbe. “This also reflects my roots and my own personal journey.” In this Elbphilharmonie Innerview, the violist, who has Dutch and French roots, talks about being cosmopolitan and the power of music to connect people, as well as his own vision and what makes his instrument so special.

A cosmopolitan outlook

“Music is a universal language that connects me with a wide variety of places and people,” says Sào Soulez Larivière, who describes himself as having a “cosmopolitan outlook”. Born in Paris in 1998, his education first took him to the Yehudi Menuhin School in England, before he moved to Berlin to study under star violist Tabea Zimermann.

For some time now, the award-winning violist has been travelling around the world to play concerts. He is grateful for the opportunity he has had to experience various cultures: “Every experience enriches my perspectives and encourages a deep appreciation of the richness of the various forms of human expression.”

The power of music to connect people is something he experiences not only through contact with the audience, as a unique opportunity for emotional communication, but also when making music with others: “Chamber music plays a key role in the viola’s artistic identity,” explains Sào Soulez Larivière, who has also played lots of music since childhood with his sister, the violinist Cosima Soulez Larivière. Chamber music is where he experiences what lies at the heart of human interaction: “You need to learn how to listen attentively and adapt your own playing. For me, this embodies the essence of communication, which is listening, empathy, and sincerity.”

Curiosity and an appetite for discovery

For Sào Soulez Larivière, the viola, which spent a long time in the shadow of the violin and cello as a solo instrument, has a special kind of potential to advance not just its specific repertoire, but also the music world in general. “It’s all about being brave enough to experiment and find creative ways of breaking down the traditional boundaries of classical music,” he believes.

With his genuine artistic openness and numerous composition commissions, the Berlin-based musician has already become one of the greatest ambassadors for his instrument – and has been passing on his appetite for discovery as a lecturer at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg since 2023. He is convinced that “music itself can awaken curiosity”. And this is a great gift he wants to share.

Where stories set sail 

Sào Soulez Larivière sees the Elbphilharmonie as an ideal place: “Right on the waterfront, this concert hall is a harbour from where a host of different stories set sail.” His own story will see him return as a European Concert Hall Organisation ‘Rising Star’ in January 2025, when he will put on an extensive solo evening show in the venue’s Kleiner Saal. Performing a brand-new work by Julia Wolfe, along with spherical sounds, technical virtuosity, and novel tones, he will showcase the many facets of his instrument – partly accompanied by the acclaimed percussionist Christoph Sietzen. We wish everybody an unforgettable evening!