Michael Wollny and Émile Parisien touch Bayreuth with an intimate jazz duel
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A jazz duo that electrifies Bayreuth
When Michael Wollny and Émile Parisien meet on May 15, 2026, at the Hoftheater of the Steingraeber-Palais, an extraordinary concert experience is created: two European top musicians, an intimate space, and a musical dialogue between jazz, classical, and avant-garde. The concert is part of Pijazzo – Jazz im Palais, which will take place in Bayreuth for the sixth time from May 14 to 17, 2026. ([jazzthing.de](https://www.jazzthing.de/news/2026-4-7-bayreuth-pijazzo-jazz-im-palais/))
Virtuoso encounters at eye level
According to the official website, Michael Wollny is considered an exceptional figure in European jazz; the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung calls him a complete piano master. His biography highlights a musician who opens new sound spaces with improvisation, compositional precision, and artistic curiosity. Émile Parisien describes himself on his official website as a shaping figure of creative French jazz, whose work draws from tradition while simultaneously surpassing it. ([michaelwollny.com](https://michaelwollny.com/))
Bayreuth in the name of piano jazz
The Pijazzo festival focuses entirely on piano and brings five international bands to the Hoftheater of the Steingraeber-Palais. According to expert reports, the atmosphere there significantly contributes to the intensity of the concert experiences. The historic venue with its 99 covered seats, barrier-free access, and the open champagne bar during breaks and before performances creates a rare mix of closeness, concentration, and festive elegance. ([jazzthing.de](https://www.jazzthing.de/news/2026-4-7-bayreuth-pijazzo-jazz-im-palais/))
Sound between chamber format and spaciousness
Wollny and Parisien are already familiar with each other musically from previous projects; Wollny's official biography refers to collaborations with Émile Parisien, among others, in the context of Out of Land and other European improvisational formats. This is precisely where the special expectation for this evening comes from: no routine, but synchronization in the moment, finely tuned interaction, and a stage performance that shapes great arcs from subtle tensions. ([michaelwollny.com](https://michaelwollny.com/portrait/))
Why this concert stands out
The Bayreuth date falls in the middle of a festival series celebrating contemporary piano jazz with international impulses. For the audience, this means a dense live experience: lots of dynamics, subtle harmonic shades, and the kind of audience atmosphere that is particularly immediate in small venues. Those who love musical boundary crossings get an evening here that connects structure and freedom, virtuosity and risk. ([jazzthing.de](https://www.jazzthing.de/news/2026-4-7-bayreuth-pijazzo-jazz-im-palais/))
Conclusion: Michael Wollny and Émile Parisien deliver a high-profile jazz evening in Bayreuth with intimacy, depth, and moments of surprise. The Hoftheater in the Steingraeber-Palais provides the perfect setting for this. Anyone who wants to experience European top talent live should mark this date firmly in their calendar. ([jazzthing.de](https://www.jazzthing.de/news/2026-4-7-bayreuth-pijazzo-jazz-im-palais/))
Official channels of Michael Wollny and Émile Parisien:
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