Christian Kolonovits studied piano at the Academy of Music in Vienna,
composition, conducting and cello, while also working as a studio musician and arranger. He has worked on more than 300 albums and CDs. 70 gold and platinum awards testify to his success.
As a leading producer and co-designer of Austropop, he produced all the well-known renowned Austrian artists such as Wolfgang Ambros, Reinhard Fendrich, Ludwig Hirsch, Maria Bill and STS. International stars such as Placido Domingo, José Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Sarah Brightman, Michael Bolton, Boney M., José Feliciano, Patricia Kaas and the Scorpions appreciate his qualities as an arranger, composer and music producer.
Since 1990, he has shifted his musical focus to symphonic works. He gained international recognition with successful crossover projects with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (V.S.O.P.), the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Scorpions (Moment of Glory). He created compositions for the theater (including the Vienna Burgtheater), wrote film and TV music for Peter Patzak, Xaver Schwarzenberg and others and composed numerous film scores such as the music for Nordwand (director: Philipp Stölzl). In 2003 he composed the Linzer Klangwolke. This was followed by music theater projects at the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien, including with the Tiger Lillies (Little Matchgirl, Woyzeck, Die Weberischen). In 2009, his children's opera Antonia und der Reißteufel premiered at the Vienna Volksoper under his musical direction to great acclaim.
In April 2014, his new opera El Juez was premiered in Bilbao with José Carreras.In 2015, El Juez was performed at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg and in 2016 at the Theater an der Wien. 2017 saw the world premiere of “Vivaldi - The Fifth Season”, a new form of BaRock opera created for the Volksoper. Kolonovits was awarded the German Musical Theater Prize 2017 in the categories “Best Composition” and “Best Musical Arrangement”.
In 2018, he developed the “Best of Austria meets Classic” format, which resulted in fruitful collaborations with many young artists. These included orchestral projects with “Camo&Krooked, Seiler&Speer and Folkshilfe, which have now achieved cult status. In 2021, he was commissioned by the Burgenland state government to rework the state anthem. This was premiered on August 15, on the occasion of the “100 Years of Burgenland” anniversary celebrations at Schlaining Castle and broadcast live by ORF. Together with Red Bull, he developed the successful “Red Bull Symphonic” concept. He has just finalized the film score for “Am Ende wird alles sichtbar” (Peter Keglevic), wrote the arrangements for “Rainhard Fendrich Symphonisch”, premiered on July 3, 2022 at the Schönbrunn Open Air under his musical direction, and conceived a new arrangement of the Austrian national anthem for Formula 1 (Austrian Grand Prix). He is currently composing the new music for the Erl Passion Play and is working with Camo&Kroocked and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra on a Johann Strauss rave for the Strauss Year 2025.
Christian Kolonovits studied piano at the Academy of Music in Vienna,
composition, conducting and cello, while also working as a studio musician and arranger. He has worked on more than 300 albums and CDs. 70 gold and platinum awards testify to his success.
As a leading producer and co-designer of Austropop, he produced all the well-known renowned Austrian artists such as Wolfgang Ambros, Reinhard Fendrich, Ludwig Hirsch, Maria Bill and STS. International stars such as Placido Domingo, José Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Sarah Brightman, Michael Bolton, Boney M., José Feliciano, Patricia Kaas and the Scorpions appreciate his qualities as an arranger, composer and music producer.
Since 1990, he has shifted his musical focus to symphonic works. He gained international recognition with successful crossover projects with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (V.S.O.P.), the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Scorpions (Moment of Glory). He created compositions for the theater (including the Vienna Burgtheater), wrote film and TV music for Peter Patzak, Xaver Schwarzenberg and others and composed numerous film scores such as the music for Nordwand (director: Philipp Stölzl). In 2003 he composed the Linzer Klangwolke. This was followed by music theater projects at the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien, including with the Tiger Lillies (Little Matchgirl, Woyzeck, Die Weberischen). In 2009, his children's opera Antonia und der Reißteufel premiered at the Vienna Volksoper under his musical direction to great acclaim.
In April 2014, his new opera El Juez was premiered in Bilbao with José Carreras.In 2015, El Juez was performed at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg and in 2016 at the Theater an der Wien. 2017 saw the world premiere of “Vivaldi - The Fifth Season”, a new form of BaRock opera created for the Volksoper. Kolonovits was awarded the German Musical Theater Prize 2017 in the categories “Best Composition” and “Best Musical Arrangement”.
In 2018, he developed the “Best of Austria meets Classic” format, which resulted in fruitful collaborations with many young artists. These included orchestral projects with “Camo&Krooked, Seiler&Speer and Folkshilfe, which have now achieved cult status. In 2021, he was commissioned by the Burgenland state government to rework the state anthem. This was premiered on August 15, on the occasion of the “100 Years of Burgenland” anniversary celebrations at Schlaining Castle and broadcast live by ORF. Together with Red Bull, he developed the successful “Red Bull Symphonic” concept. He has just finalized the film score for “Am Ende wird alles sichtbar” (Peter Keglevic), wrote the arrangements for “Rainhard Fendrich Symphonisch”, premiered on July 3, 2022 at the Schönbrunn Open Air under his musical direction, and conceived a new arrangement of the Austrian national anthem for Formula 1 (Austrian Grand Prix). He is currently composing the new music for the Erl Passion Play and is working with Camo&Kroocked and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra on a Johann Strauss rave for the Strauss Year 2025.