Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A monumental challenge that tests the artist's limits: from dawn till late into the night, pianist Roman Borisov performs the longest work ever written for his instrument in a livestream from the Konzerthaus Dortmund: Erik Satie’s Vexations – exhausting, fascinating, hypnotic.
This is part 1 of the 15-hour piano marathon. Watch part 2 (the last 3 hours) here: youtube.com/watch?v=Q6hd1a-bBIw
For Roman Borisov, this concert is both a personal and artistic challenge – and a statement. At its center is Vexations, the mysterious miniature by Erik Satie (1866 – 1925), which, through 840 repetitions, becomes an almost meditative experience. At the same time, the project builds a bridge between concert hall, public sphere, and social engagement: fittingly for World Children’s Day on September 20, Borisov and “Save the Children Germany” are raising awareness for children in need - the concert thus becomes a space of musical encounter and a symbol of togetherness. Children will play a role during the concert as well, as they are his saviours in need, giving him breaks throughout the day and replacing him at the piano.
Anyone wishing to support children in need worldwide can donate here to Save the Children Germany: savethechildren.de/unterstuetzen/wege-zu-helfen/aktion-weltkindertag/. Donations can also be made to Save the Children directly at IBAN DE96 3702 0500 0003 2929 12 (payment reference: “For children in need worldwide”).
Roman Borisov was born in 2002 in Novosibirsk, Russia. His musical journey began at the age of four, when a perceptive kindergarten teacher introduced him to the legendary piano pedagogue Mary Lebenzon at the Novosibirsk Conservatory, who would mentor him until 2020. He has quickly established himself as one of the most compelling voices of his generation. Since January 2022, he has been based in Berlin, studying with Eldar Nebolsin at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler. He records exclusively for the prestigious ALPHA label, with releases including Mozart’s Piano Concertos KV 413 and KV 415 with the ORF Symphony Orchestra, as well as his acclaimed debut solo album featuring works by Franck, Godowsky, and Rachmaninov.
At just 22, Borisov has already appeared with some of Europe’s most prolific conductors and orchestras, demonstrating an uncanny maturity and wide repertoire. During the 2025/26 season he will appear amongst others with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, SWR Symphony Orchestra, and Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra as well as in solo recitals at the Philharmonie Berlin, Cologne Philharmonie, Munich’s Prinzregententheater, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Tonhalle Zürich, KKL Lucerne, and the Auditorium de Lyon and in a 3-year residency at the Nikolaisaal in Potsdam. An avid chamber musician, Borisov collaborates with partners such as the Quatuor Modigliani, violinist Maria Ioudenitch, and soprano Erika Baikoff, with festival appearances at Heidelberger Frühling, Kissinger Sommer and the Schubertíada Vilabertran.
Credits:
CEO & Artistic Director
DR. RAPHAEL VON HOENSBROECH
Head of Artistic Planning and Administration Konzerthaus Dortmund
DAVID HILDEBRANDT
Project Management Konzerthaus Dortmund
HELENE MÖNKEMEYER
Technical Supervision Konzerthaus Dortmund
JANUSZ JARZOMBEK
Project Management Save the Children
SIMONA KAMLEITER
Camera
BENJAMIN WEU
CLEMENS HÖRLBACHER
Sound
TORSTEN HELBRON
Light
MARIUS BIECKMANN
BENJAMIN KUSS
Production
TOTON PRODUCTIONS
Head of Production
TORSTEN HELBRON
Producer
UTE FESQUET
Commissioning Editors
SUSANNE LENZ-GLEISSNER
REINER SCHILD
ANASTASSIA BOUTSKO
Executive Producer
JOCHEN ROSENKRANZ
A production by
Konzerthaus Dortmund
Special thanks to:
Save the Children Deutschland e. V.
Karin and Winfried Wohlfeld and the Stiftung am Grunewald
© 2025 Konzerthaus Dortmund / Deutsche Welle
Thumbnail photo: © Nikolaj Lund
Watch more concerts in your personal concert hall:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBV5A14dyRWy1KSkwcG8LEey
Subscribe to DW Classical Music:
youtube.com/dwclassicalmusic
#satie #pianosolo #livestream
A monumental challenge that tests the artist's limits: from dawn till late into the night, pianist Roman Borisov performs the longest work ever written for his instrument in a livestream from the Konzerthaus Dortmund: Erik Satie’s Vexations – exhausting, fascinating, hypnotic.
This is part 1 of the 15-hour piano marathon. Watch part 2 (the last 3 hours) here: youtube.com/watch?v=Q6hd1a-bBIw
For Roman Borisov, this concert is both a personal and artistic challenge – and a statement. At its center is Vexations, the mysterious miniature by Erik Satie (1866 – 1925), which, through 840 repetitions, becomes an almost meditative experience. At the same time, the project builds a bridge between concert hall, public sphere, and social engagement: fittingly for World Children’s Day on September 20, Borisov and “Save the Children Germany” are raising awareness for children in need - the concert thus becomes a space of musical encounter and a symbol of togetherness. Children will play a role during the concert as well, as they are his saviours in need, giving him breaks throughout the day and replacing him at the piano.
Anyone wishing to support children in need worldwide can donate here to Save the Children Germany: savethechildren.de/unterstuetzen/wege-zu-helfen/aktion-weltkindertag/. Donations can also be made to Save the Children directly at IBAN DE96 3702 0500 0003 2929 12 (payment reference: “For children in need worldwide”).
Roman Borisov was born in 2002 in Novosibirsk, Russia. His musical journey began at the age of four, when a perceptive kindergarten teacher introduced him to the legendary piano pedagogue Mary Lebenzon at the Novosibirsk Conservatory, who would mentor him until 2020. He has quickly established himself as one of the most compelling voices of his generation. Since January 2022, he has been based in Berlin, studying with Eldar Nebolsin at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler. He records exclusively for the prestigious ALPHA label, with releases including Mozart’s Piano Concertos KV 413 and KV 415 with the ORF Symphony Orchestra, as well as his acclaimed debut solo album featuring works by Franck, Godowsky, and Rachmaninov.
At just 22, Borisov has already appeared with some of Europe’s most prolific conductors and orchestras, demonstrating an uncanny maturity and wide repertoire. During the 2025/26 season he will appear amongst others with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, SWR Symphony Orchestra, and Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra as well as in solo recitals at the Philharmonie Berlin, Cologne Philharmonie, Munich’s Prinzregententheater, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Tonhalle Zürich, KKL Lucerne, and the Auditorium de Lyon and in a 3-year residency at the Nikolaisaal in Potsdam. An avid chamber musician, Borisov collaborates with partners such as the Quatuor Modigliani, violinist Maria Ioudenitch, and soprano Erika Baikoff, with festival appearances at Heidelberger Frühling, Kissinger Sommer and the Schubertíada Vilabertran.
Credits:
CEO & Artistic Director
DR. RAPHAEL VON HOENSBROECH
Head of Artistic Planning and Administration Konzerthaus Dortmund
DAVID HILDEBRANDT
Project Management Konzerthaus Dortmund
HELENE MÖNKEMEYER
Technical Supervision Konzerthaus Dortmund
JANUSZ JARZOMBEK
Project Management Save the Children
SIMONA KAMLEITER
Camera
BENJAMIN WEU
CLEMENS HÖRLBACHER
Sound
TORSTEN HELBRON
Light
MARIUS BIECKMANN
BENJAMIN KUSS
Production
TOTON PRODUCTIONS
Head of Production
TORSTEN HELBRON
Producer
UTE FESQUET
Commissioning Editors
SUSANNE LENZ-GLEISSNER
REINER SCHILD
ANASTASSIA BOUTSKO
Executive Producer
JOCHEN ROSENKRANZ
A production by
Konzerthaus Dortmund
Special thanks to:
Save the Children Deutschland e. V.
Karin and Winfried Wohlfeld and the Stiftung am Grunewald
© 2025 Konzerthaus Dortmund / Deutsche Welle
Thumbnail photo: © Nikolaj Lund
Watch more concerts in your personal concert hall:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBV5A14dyRWy1KSkwcG8LEey
Subscribe to DW Classical Music:
youtube.com/dwclassicalmusic
#satie #pianosolo #livestream
