Merry Christmas!

Dear colleagues & friends

Once again, a year full of events on every level is coming to an end, and it’s been hard to keep up with all the developments around the world. With countless crises and challenges affecting every sector—including the arts—we’re all likely heading into the holiday season with a little less ease than we might have a few years ago.

Still, looking back at the year behind us and ahead to the next, there’s plenty that gives us cause for optimism and motivation: our long-standing, world-class orchestras continue to be warmly welcomed everywhere; our partners in international concert halls still trust our recommendations for adventurous ensembles that aren’t yet guaranteed to sell out. Even though working with our artists from overseas has become more complicated administratively, everyone involved is putting in tireless effort to make the seemingly impossible possible—because artistic freedom and mobility are more essential than ever, because cross-border dialogue is urgently needed in a time of rising disregard for democracy, and because music, fortunately, still connects, inspires, and brings a little joy into our lives.

With this in mind, we look to the end of the year with optimism and welcome the year ahead with confidence and anticipation!

We wish you, your colleagues, and your families a Merry Christmas if you celebrate, a peaceful turn of the year, and a wonderful start to a healthy and happy 2026!

Warm regards from the ARCC team

Andreas Richter, Andrea Kerner, Michael Sauter, Ina Holthaus, Daniela Gast, Raphael Reher,
Capucine Valois, Benjamin Kaiser & Emily Dreyfus

Please note that our office will be closed from December 22, 2025 to January 5, 2026.