Herbert Pixner launches symphonic tour with sold-out St. Pölten show

Herbert Pixner and the Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria opened their “Symphonic Alps Reloaded 2026” tour at a sold-out concert hall in St. Pölten on Saturday evening, ORF reported, citing APA culture journalist Ewald Baringer.

Baringer praised the blend of folk music, jazz, blues, pop and flamenco, but wrote that its bombastic, widescreen sound and sentimental mountain imagery were beginning to resemble alpine pageants. Pixner, a multi-instrumentalist and composer, brought rock-influenced film music evoking the Dolomites and sunrise, alongside tales ranging from King Laurin to the three Hiatabuam, with touches of tango and musical theatre.

Guitarist Manuel Randi stood out with virtuosic, expressive playing that at times threatened to steal the show, Baringer wrote. Pixner moved between several instruments, including harmonica, clarinet, flugelhorn, trumpet, saxophone, euphonium and lamellophone. Arrangements by Alex Trebo and Jakob Wagner were highly polished, while the orchestra, led by Lorenz C. Aichner, provided what the review described as a substantial symphonic backdrop.

Harpsichordist Elisabeth Jamnik’s playing was largely lost in the large ensemble, according to Baringer. Heidi Pixner, previously the project’s regular harpist, is taking a break from performing. On her website, she said she was exchanging concert halls for forests and mountains and would release harp music made “from nature, in nature, with nature.”

Three encores further enthused the audience. But a fast Landler performed without the orchestra also highlighted what Baringer said was missing from the show: its musical roots. Pixner returned to those roots in September with three small-ensemble performances under the title “Almerisch Landlerisch.”

Almost all dates on the tour are sold out. After a second St. Pölten performance on Sunday, the tour continues to cities including Linz, Salzburg, Munich, Graz, Innsbruck, Dresden, Hanover, Bochum and Berlin. It also includes a performance at Vienna’s Musikverein before concluding at the Vienna Konzerthaus on November 29.