Peter Cornelius & Band - !ZEiTLOS!

For more than five decades, Peter Cornelius has been one of the most successful singer-songwriters in the German-speaking world. Many of his songs have long since become part of everyday culture – true classics like Reif für die Insel (“Ready for the Island”), Segel im Wind (“Sail in the Wind”), and of course Du entschuldige i kenn di (“Excuse Me, I Know You”). In 2026, this exceptional artist turns 75 – and celebrates with a major tour!

Frontman, singer-songwriter, and lead guitarist Peter Cornelius is known for his soulful ballads and uptempo songs with profound lyrics – and equally admired for his virtuoso guitar playing. In 2026, he celebrates his 75th birthday with a big tour, accompanied on stage by his band on bass, drums, and keyboards.
Born in Vienna in 1951, Cornelius is one of the most influential German-language songwriters. His music has always been inspired by personal experiences and social observations. “Sometimes I write and compose whether I want to or not – reflexively. As if it were the most natural thing in the world,” he says. Much of this can be heard in his songs: a collection of windows that, over the years, allow brief, intimate glimpses into the heart of the man himself. At his concerts, the audience embarks on a journey, diving into the world he brings with him. “Strangely, at 75, going on tour feels more natural to me than it did at 40 or 50. Early on, I chose the Kinks’ song I’m Not Like Everybody Else as my life’s motto – my compass. ”With every song, Cornelius gives energy, inspires courage, provokes reflection, and often leaves meaning between the lines, guiding his audience into the subtleties, the in-between tones. His songs are total works of art, each bearing his unmistakable signature. “Over the years, people have kept telling me my songs are timeless. I am timeless.”

Peter Cornelius & Band Live – an absolutely timeless highlight of the 2026 concert calendar.

program

PETER CORNELIUS
!ZEiTLOS!

Place

With the Wolkenturm, Grafenegg’s centuries-old architectural landscape gained an open-air stage (in 2007) that blended perfectly into its natural surroundings. Nestling in a natural hollow, the building designed by architects Marie-Therese Harnoncourt and Ernst J. Fuchs (the next ENTERprise – architects) is a sculpture that rises up a good 15 metres to the height of the treetops and affords unexpected views from a range of standpoints. From the terraces, with seating for over 1,700 spectators, as well as from the surrounding hills that provide lawn seating for over 300 people, one’s eye is caught by the historical castle and the romantic ambience of Grafenegg. The open-air arena’s acoustic shell produces an excellent sound through the acoustic detailing of the Munich firm Müller-BBM.