Karajan | About Karajan Institute | Official Website of Herbert von Karajan

The Eliette and Herbert von Karajan Institute is a not-for-profit organization founded by Eliette von Karajan. It is the successor institution of the Karajan Centrum in Vienna, which was founded in 1995.

The mission of the Karajan Institute is to preserve, manage, and present the artistic legacy of Herbert von Karajan, including the stewardship of his works, archives, and intellectual property in a sustainable manner. The Institute develops and supports initiatives that make classical music accessible worldwide, contribute to music education, and empower artists to realize their potential.

The Karajan Institute achieves this by

overseeing, operating and expanding the Karajan Archive

licensing, managing, and developing the catalogue in collaboration with partners and in a sustainable manner

enabling audiences and communities to engage with Karajan’s musical legacy across digital and physical platforms;

partnering with arts organizations, media and technology firms, to make classical music accessible worldwide, contribute to music education, and empower artists to realize their potential in relevant and contemporary ways

producing and commissioning editorial, documentary, and educational content that reflects the mediating role of music in the world

initiating and collaborating on research into Karajan’s performances and the impact of music on the human body and mind

undertaking further activities consistent with the Institute’s mission both in Salzburg and internationally.

Team

Pavel AchterManaging Director

Pavel Achter joined the Karajan Institute as Managing Director in August 2025 and is responsible for the overall vision and strategy of the Institute, the global brand Herbert von Karajan and the continued cultivation of Karajan’s artistic legacy.

He brings a multifaceted, international perspective to the evolving intersection of classical music, creativity, and innovation. At the Universal Music Group, he led international strategy projects and oversaw investments in leading music productions, catalogs, and live events. As a senior consultant at actori, a cultural strategy consultancy, he advised numerous arts organizations on developing forward-looking strategies. He also supported social enterprises in the cultural and creative industries. In addition to his professional experience, Pavel Achter is a trained pianist and vocal performer who has sung with renowned ensembles such as the Philharmonia Chorus London and the Zurich Sing-Akademie.

Pavel Achter began his career at UBS in international wealth management and business development. He holds degrees in Economics and International Management from The London School of Economics (CEMS), Bocconi University and University of Mannheim.

Henry LadewigCommercial Director/Prokurist

Henry Ladewig has been working for the Karajan Institute since 2007. Initially, he supported the Institute and its partners as project controller for the worldwide activities for the Karajan Year 2008. Today, Henry Ladewig is the Karajan Institute’s Commercial Director/CFO and the central contact person for all commercial agendas, as well as an expert in licensing and royalties. In recent years, his passion for technology has been instrumental in digitizing and automating the Institute’s processes and workflows.

Henry Ladewig has a classical piano education, holds an associate degree in copyrights management and music licensing, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. In his spare time, Henry Ladewig produces and releases music through his own music label.

Pia BernauerHead of Archive

Pia Bernauer joined the Karajan Institute in 2012 as Head of the Karajan Archive. Her particular focus lies on the digitization of all archive materials and the development of the Karajan recording & concert database. Pia’s work has been essential in making Herbert von Karajan’s life and work digitally accessible to millions of people worldwide for the first time. In Spin On Classical Music, Pia presented hand-picked Karajan tracks along with interesting stories from the archive via social media and on streaming services.

Pia Bernauer holds a Master’s degree in musicology as well as a Bachelor of Arts in international marketing.

Martin AignerDeveloper

Dr. Martin Aigner is a computer scientist, software architect, and data analyst, responsible for the digital transformation of the Karajan Institute and Karajan Archive since 2017. He is also dedicated to combining computer aided analysis methods to scientific studies in musicology.

Martin studied computer science in Salzburg and Zurich, graduated from Prof. Kirsch’s Computational Systems Group in 2017, and published various articles on performance analysis.

Martin is also a musician, writing and performing with the contemporary rock outfits Bumbatschak and Inside the Sun.