One of the most significant violinists of our time, Grammy-winning ‘living legend’ Gidon Kremer, returns to the Auer Festival for the second time, leading the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra. A student of David Oistrakh at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Kremer has been acclaimed worldwide since his competition victories. His unique artistry remains a sensation with every new concert programme, his technique shining even more over the years. This might be due to his relentless pursuit of excellence, constant practice, and collaboration with other world-class musicians.
Kremer writes about himself: ‘I lived in Moscow for fifteen years, had apartments in Paris for decades, and lived in New York, Zurich, and Vilnius – but fundamentally, I feel that my only true home is the stage.’
In 1996, Kremer founded the Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra, composed of the most talented Baltic musicians, which won a Grammy Award in 2002. Their aim is to popularise the works of unique-sounding composers like Mieczysław Weinberg, Giya Kancheli, and Valentin Silvestrov. Many composers, including Alfred Schnittke, Arvo Pärt, Giya Kancheli, Philip Glass, and Astor Piazzolla, have dedicated works to him. To honor his 70th birthday, Deutsche Grammophon released a limited edition 22-CD collection. He received the Praemium Imperiale award in 2016, considered the Nobel Prize of music.
Robert Schumann is one of Kremer's favorite composers, hence his choice of the Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 129, for this concert, originally the Cello Concerto in A minor, arranged for violin.
His instrument is a 1641 Nicola Amati violin.
Programme subject to change.
