Entertainment

Ispasion Show Productions is a dance company known worldwide for its impressive creativity and graceful beauty. The main mission of the artists is to create unforgettable stage experiences that evoke emotions and captivate the audience.

Dance in its various forms is the central focus. Neo-Flamenco and Neo-Tango, Spanish and contemporary dance, as well as ballet, combine with cutting-edge stage technology and avant-garde visual effects to create a top-tier show.

The artists of the company are talented dancers with diverse backgrounds. They are admired not only for their flawless technique but also for their breathtaking interpretations and expressive stage presence.

Giovanni Zarrella is a German-Italian singer, presenter, and entertainer. His musical career began in 2001 with the pop group Bro'Sis, which achieved great success, including a Bambi award as the best band in Germany.

After a quieter phase, Zarrella reinvented himself and released his first solo album in 2019, where he reinterpreted famous German hits in Italian. The album debuted at number 1 on the German album charts and was certified double platinum by the end of 2021. In April 2021, he released the album Ciao!, which also topped the charts and achieved gold status within six months. That same year, he was crowned the most successful Schlager act of the year.

His own ZDF Saturday evening show, Giovanni Zarrella Show, premiered in 2021 and quickly became a hit. Due to its success, ZDF extended his contract for another three years, ensuring the show will continue until at least 2028. In addition to his music show, Zarrella will take over the hosting of the charity gala for "Brot für die Welt" and "Misereor" starting December 2025, following in the footsteps of Carmen Nebel.

In March 2025, Zarrella released his third studio album Universo, which once again celebrates the connection between his German and Italian roots. The album was praised by both fans and critics, solidifying his status as one of the leading artists in the German-speaking world.

His life motto, "La vita è bella" – life is beautiful – reflects in all his projects and continues to captivate a broad audience.

© Maximilian König

Italian pianist Martina Consonni, hailed for her innate musicality and profound sensitivity coupled with an exceptional instrumental technique and brilliance of sound, has established herself as one of the most promising young musicians of this generation. From her debut at the age of ten with the Bacau Philharmonic Orchestra, Martina has garnered international acclaim as both a soloist and chamber musician. Her performances have graced prestigious venues worldwide, including the Berlin Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall and Royal Albert Hall in London, Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Tonhalle Zürich. Her dedication to artistic excellence led her to collaborations with renowned conductors such as Louis Langrè, Anna Rakitina, Holly Choe, Ovidiu Balan, Marco Boni and with institutions such as Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Dresden Philarmonic, Bochum Symphoniker, Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich. Martina's musical prowess has been acknowledged through numerous accolades, including over 55 grand prizes in international competitions. Born in Como, Italy, Martina's musical journey began early. Her work culminated in her graduation with honors in piano at the age of fourteen. She pursued advanced studies under luminaries such as Enrico Pace, Arie Vardi and Andreas Schiff, earning multiple Master's degrees and an Artist Diploma from prestigious institutions.

The French-Dutch violist Sào Soulez Larivière is rapidly building a flourishing career as a versatile musician. He captivates audiences with his playing and original programming, striving to expand the accessibility and perception of classical music in our modern world. He was named “Young Artist of the Year” 2023 by the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) and nominated as a “Rising Star” for the 2024/25 season by the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO). These achievements build on his growing international career, propelled by recent competition successes, including first prize at the Prague Spring International Competition 2023. Born in 1998 in Paris, Sào originally began his musical journey with the violin. At a young age, he received a scholarship to study with Natasha Boyarsky at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England. There, he discovered the viola through chamber and orchestral music and decided to fully dedicate himself to the instrument in his later school years. Sào lives in Berlin and completed his Bachelor of Music with Tabea Zimmermann at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler.” He earned his master’s degree at the Kronberg Academy, where he is currently enrolled in the Professional Studies program. Teaching has become a great passion in Sào’s musical life, and he is delighted to be appointed as a professor of viola at the Mozarteum University Salzburg starting in autumn 2023.

Franco-Dutch violinist Cosima Soulez Larivière has already built a name for herself, having been awarded numerous prizes—3rd prize at the Joseph Joachim Competition, 1st prize at the inaugural Bartók World Competition & Festival, 1st prize at the Brahms Competition and 3rd prize (and the Bach prize) at the Postacchini Competition. Concerts have brought her all over Europe (Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall London, Franz Liszt Academy Budapest, Gewandhaus Leipzig) as well as to Asia, Australia and the United States. As a soloist, she has performed with orchestras such as the MDR-Sinfonieorchester, the Kammerakademie Potsdam and the NDR Radiophilharmonie.A dedicated chamber musician, she has been invited to perform at the Lockenhaus Festival (Austria), Ukaria 24 (South Australia), Chigiana Festival (Italy), to name a few, appearing alongside artists like Ilya Gringolts, Olli Mustonen, Martin Helmchen and Igor Levit. She just completed her Professional Studies at the Kronberg Academy with Mihaela Martin.Since 2017, Soulez Larivière is supported by the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes. As a scholarship holder of the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben, she has generously been loaned a violin made by Giovanni Grancino (Milan, 1675)

"Every beginning has its magic," wrote Hermann Hesse. When the Commeter Art Gallery opened in 1821 on Johannisstraße, it was the first business of its kind in Hamburg. The founders, Ernst Georg Harzen and Johann Matthias Commeter, significantly shaped the city's art scene and left a lasting legacy with 30,000 engravings and drawings that founded the Kupferstichkabinett at the Kunsthalle. In 1847, Wilhelm Becker and Christian Meyer took over the gallery, which was further developed by Wilhelm Suhr in 1878 and moved to a magnificent Art Nouveau building in 1908. Suhr Junior led the gallery into the modern era, showcasing Munch, Nolde, and other Expressionists, becoming a key address for modern art. In 1952, Andreas Suhr took over, followed by his daughter Hella Suhr. Today, Carola Persiehl, a descendant of the founders, runs the gallery and features contemporary artists such as Jochen Hein, Maria Ikonomopoulou, and Klaus Schweier. In 2007, she co-founded the sister gallery Persiehl & Heine, specializing in contemporary photography. The gallery’s legacy of art enthusiasm and business acumen continues to thrive.

Discover all cruises on which the gallery is represented on board.

When the Commeter Art Gallery established its first location on Johannisstraße in 1821, it was the first business of its kind in Hamburg. Founding fathers Ernst Georg Harzen and Matthias Commeter played a significant role in shaping Hamburg's art scene. Today, the gallery remains a prominent institution in the city's art world. Over the decades, it has consistently been led by family members with a keen sense and passion for art. Since 1997, Carola Persiehl, whose great-great-grandfather took over the gallery, has managed the business. Under her leadership, the gallery has firmly established itself at the center of contemporary art. She follows a principle that has always been crucial to the gallery’s success: "You must fall in love with a painting to recommend it," she says about her work. A passion for art and business acumen, combined with the idealistic yet pragmatic belief that good, true, and beautiful things have their price, forms the legacy of Harzen and Commeter. This legacy has endured through the changing tides of history, providing the solid foundation for the art pieces that continue to be discovered at the Commeter Gallery today and in the future.