Christian Tetzlaff

Violin soloist

“Tetzlaff offered a reading of the Brahms concerto that was at once immensely virtuosic and deeply personal. From his very first entrance, this was viscerally explosive violin playing, but always with a sense of purpose and richness of inner life. [..] But I think what ultimately moves people is the emotional openness and deep sincerity of Tetzlaff’s playing.” Boston Globe, July 2009

Christian Tetzlaff’s incomparable interpretations of the violin concerto repertoire, whether of the classical/romantic period or 20^th century/contemporary era are appreciated the world over. 2005 Musical America publication named him “Instrumentalist of the Year”.

In the 2009/10 season after concerts with Vienna Philharmonic and Pierre Boulez, a Tanglewood Festival residency which included the complete Beethoven duos with Alexander Lonquich, and Brahms concerto with James Levine, and an appearance at the Edinburgh Festival on tour with the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and Ingo Metzmacher, Christian Tetzlaff continues this season performing no fewer than ten concerts in New York and London.

In New York he performs Schubert’s piano trios with Lars Vogt and Tanja Tetzlaff as well as the Bach Solo Sonatas and Partitas, the latter also in Chicago. He tours Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Michael Tilson Thomas to Carnegie Hall and on a major US tour with this collaboration reuniting in Europe next season. With the London Symphony Orchestra, and touring to Germany under Daniel Harding, Tetzlaff performs Mendelssohn and Jörg Widmann’s violin concertos - the latter which he premiered in 2007. He is guest soloist with London Philharmonic and Christoph Eschenbach and, with Tanja Tetzlaff and Leif Ove Andsnes, he returns to London’s Wigmore Hall performing Schumann.

Christian Tetzlaff is also guest soloist this season with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Paris and WDR Köln under Jakub Hrůša, Helsinki Philharmonic with John Storgårds, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Oslo Philharmonic with Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Budapest Festival Orchestra with Hans Graf and Montreal Symphony Orchestra with Sir Andrew Davis. His regular collaboration with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen sees him perform both with Tanja Tetzlaff and on tour in Germany under the direction of Heinz Holliger. He is guest soloist with Bamberg Symphony Orchestra and Jonathan Nott touring to Japan. He will also perform with his quartet.

Tetzlaff’s discography for Virgin Classics and other labels includes the major concerto repertoire, Bartok Sonatas with Leif Ove Andsnes, and the three Brahms Violin Sonatas with Lars Vogt. Christian Tetzlaff has received several awards for his recordings: the Diapason d’Or twice, the Edison prize, the Midem Classical Award as well as the ECHO Klassik prize and several nominations for the Grammy. His recent recording of all of Bach’s solo Sonatas and Partitas on the Haenssler label deserves special mention. His recording of Szymanowski with the Vienna Philharmonic and Pierre Boulez is much anticipated as are the Schumann piano trios with Tanja Tetzlaff and Leif Ove Andsnes.

General

Christian Tetzlaff plays a violin by German violinmaker Peter Greiner.. He lives with his family near Frankfurt.

Together with Lars Vogt, Christian Tetzlaff supports the initiative "RHAPSODY IN"

Christian Tetzlaff website www.christiantetzlaff.com