Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From Istanbul to international stages, pianist Lal Karaalioğlu brings a distinctive voice to classical music. At Beethovenfest Bonn 2025, her concert demonstrates how music can be a powerful tool for feminism — bridging cultures, emotions and generations, one note at a time.
At a glance:
(00:00) Lal Karaalioğlu on stage at the Beethovenfest Bonn 2025 performing Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op.12, 2. Aufschwung
(00:20) Why is it important for you to perform compositions by female composers?
(00:57) Lal Karaalioğlu performs Emilie Mayer's Piano Sonata in D minor, 1. Allegro
(01:06) What are the emotions you would like to convey to the audience?
(01:30) Lal Karaalioğlu performs Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op.12, 4. Grillen
(01:42) Lal Karaalioğlu performs Emilie Mayer's Piano Sonata in D minor, 1. Allegro
(02:07) How do you connect with those emotions?
(02:31) Lal Karaalioğlu performs Ignacy Jan Paderewski's 6 Humoresques de concert, 2. Sarabande
(02:42) Why does classical music struggle to draw younger audiences?
(03:07) Lal Karaalioğlu performs Clara Schumann's Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 21
(03:22) What is the most satisfying part of your career?
(03:44) Ovations
Lal Karaalioğlu was born in Istanbul in 1998. After graduating in 2017 from both Istanbul University State Conservatory and Deutsche Schule Istanbul, she was accepted into the class of Ewa Kupiec at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover.
After completing her master’s degree, she chose to further her artistic development at the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin. There she studies as an Artist Diploma student under Schaghajegh Nosrati, focusing on the interdisciplinary blend of music and art.
In 2023, the Hannover University of Music, Drama and Media honored Karaalioğlu with the DAAD Prize — a distinction awarded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to non-German students who combine excellent academic performance with outstanding social or intercultural commitment.
She performed in the 2025 edition of Beethovenfest’s “Beethovenfest Talents,” a program spotlighting five emerging artists. As part of the festival, she participated in chamber concerts — and made her solo recital debut in Bonn.
The program included Emilie Mayer's Piano Sonata in D minor, Ludwig van Beethoven's Fantasy in G minor, Op. 77, Clara Schumann's Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 20, Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 and Ignacy Jan Paderewski's 6 Humoresques de concert.
Report: Hussna Mohamed and Chi-Hui Lin
Camera: Natalie Wittmann, Moritz Vogt and Timon Heidorn
Editing; Moritz Vogt
© 2025 DEUTSCHE WELLE
Watch more fascinating documentaries: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBUu43Xaa5AYyL7MruoJ42WD
and more portraits of interesting musicans: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBUGCdoVYLjdUZa_L1OU6tMD
Subscribe to DW Classical Music: youtube.com/dwclassicalmusic
#femalepianist #classicalmusic #musicdocumentary
From Istanbul to international stages, pianist Lal Karaalioğlu brings a distinctive voice to classical music. At Beethovenfest Bonn 2025, her concert demonstrates how music can be a powerful tool for feminism — bridging cultures, emotions and generations, one note at a time.
At a glance:
(00:00) Lal Karaalioğlu on stage at the Beethovenfest Bonn 2025 performing Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op.12, 2. Aufschwung
(00:20) Why is it important for you to perform compositions by female composers?
(00:57) Lal Karaalioğlu performs Emilie Mayer's Piano Sonata in D minor, 1. Allegro
(01:06) What are the emotions you would like to convey to the audience?
(01:30) Lal Karaalioğlu performs Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op.12, 4. Grillen
(01:42) Lal Karaalioğlu performs Emilie Mayer's Piano Sonata in D minor, 1. Allegro
(02:07) How do you connect with those emotions?
(02:31) Lal Karaalioğlu performs Ignacy Jan Paderewski's 6 Humoresques de concert, 2. Sarabande
(02:42) Why does classical music struggle to draw younger audiences?
(03:07) Lal Karaalioğlu performs Clara Schumann's Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 21
(03:22) What is the most satisfying part of your career?
(03:44) Ovations
Lal Karaalioğlu was born in Istanbul in 1998. After graduating in 2017 from both Istanbul University State Conservatory and Deutsche Schule Istanbul, she was accepted into the class of Ewa Kupiec at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover.
After completing her master’s degree, she chose to further her artistic development at the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin. There she studies as an Artist Diploma student under Schaghajegh Nosrati, focusing on the interdisciplinary blend of music and art.
In 2023, the Hannover University of Music, Drama and Media honored Karaalioğlu with the DAAD Prize — a distinction awarded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to non-German students who combine excellent academic performance with outstanding social or intercultural commitment.
She performed in the 2025 edition of Beethovenfest’s “Beethovenfest Talents,” a program spotlighting five emerging artists. As part of the festival, she participated in chamber concerts — and made her solo recital debut in Bonn.
The program included Emilie Mayer's Piano Sonata in D minor, Ludwig van Beethoven's Fantasy in G minor, Op. 77, Clara Schumann's Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann in F-sharp minor, Op. 20, Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 and Ignacy Jan Paderewski's 6 Humoresques de concert.
Report: Hussna Mohamed and Chi-Hui Lin
Camera: Natalie Wittmann, Moritz Vogt and Timon Heidorn
Editing; Moritz Vogt
© 2025 DEUTSCHE WELLE
Watch more fascinating documentaries: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBUu43Xaa5AYyL7MruoJ42WD
and more portraits of interesting musicans: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBUGCdoVYLjdUZa_L1OU6tMD
Subscribe to DW Classical Music: youtube.com/dwclassicalmusic
#femalepianist #classicalmusic #musicdocumentary
