Biography
One of the world’s most-streamed female classical pianists, Alice Sara Ott is renowned not only for the poetry, refinement and emotional honesty of her playing, but for her innovative approach to programming and audience engagement. A global artist who performs in the most prestigious venues both as solo pianist and with the world’s leading orchestras, she continually reimagines the repertoire, creating original multimedia experiences through cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Exploring and experimenting have long been part of the German-Japanese pianist’s approach to her work. When touring the music from her 2021 DG album Echoes Of Life, for example, she worked with architect Hakan Demirel, whose digital video installation added a visual narrative to her live performances. Then, in 2023, she became the face of the Apple Music Classical app when she starred in its multi-platform video launch campaign, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Karina Canellakis.
Alice is also the first choice for many leading contemporary composers when it comes to premiering and recording their work. This has led to exciting collaborations with Ólafur Arnalds, Bryce Dessner, Chilly Gonzales, and Francesco Tristano, among others.
A talented illustrator and designer, Alice fosters her versatile image by merging classical music with fashion, jewellery and tech. She has worked closely with such leading international brands as Technics; JOST bags (Germany); French jewellery house Chaumet, part of the LVMH group; and German jeweller Wempe.
She became an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist in 2008, when she was only 19 years old. Her latest album, Alice Sara Ott: John Field · Complete Nocturnes, was released in February 2025 to critical acclaim (“Ott brings to these pieces an expressive touch, subtle rubato, graceful left-hand fluidity and sparkling right-hand filigree” – Gramophone).
As a complement to the recording, she worked with director Andrew Staples to create Alice Sara Ott: Nocturne, a 45-minute film shot at the Hyperbowl virtual production house in Munich. Offering a rare glimpse into the artist’s mind during the creative process, this immersive film went on to win the 2025 OPUS KLASSIK Audiovisual Music Production of the Year award.