Composer Arash Safaian and pianist Sebastian Knauer have released their highly-anticipated new album This Is (Not) Beethoven via BMG label Modern Recordings.

One of the most surprising contributions for the Beethoven 250th anniversary in 2020, This Is (Not) Beethoven is a transformation of the musical tradition to a more contemporary understanding, with a fresh and modern approach. The album reached number 31 on Billboard's Classical Albums chart and Number One on iTunes Germany's Classical Albums chart.

Following the internationally acclaimed, ECHO:KLASSIK-winning success of ÜberBach, This Is (Not) Beethoven is the second joint production by Knauer and Safaian together with the Zürcher Chamber Orchestra.

Arash Safaian studied composition and film music in Munich and Paris and made his mark as a composer with orchestral works, ensemble pieces, film music and operas. His operas were performed in New York (on the beach/ Robert Wilson) Berlin and Munich. In 2019 Safaian won the Bavarian Film Price for Best Film Music for the OST for the movie “Lara” which The Hollywood Reporter described as, “Arash Safaian’s score is very much in keeping with the film’s idiosyncratic spirit, used sparingly until it’s time to blast the audience away with racing fingers and masterful playing.”

Sebastian Knauer's career as a pianist led to performances at important venues in more than 50 countries all around the world, from the US to Ukraine. Knauer released more than 20 CD recordings, played with renown musicians including Daniel Hope or Sol Gabetta and is the founder and artistic director of three different music festivals in Germany.