Frank Peter Zimmermann

Violin

Frank Peter Zimmermann is widely regarded as one of the foremost violinists of his generation.  Praised for his selfless musicality, his brilliance and keen intelligence he has been performing with all major orchestras in the world for well over three decades, collaborating on these occasions with the world’s most renowned conductors. His many concert engagements take him to all important concert venues and international music festivals in Europe, the United States, Asia, South America and Australia.

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Frank Peter Zimmermann is widely regarded as one of the foremost violinists of his generation. Praised for his selfless musicality, his brilliance and keen intelligence he has been performing with all major orchestras in the world for well over three decades, collaborating on these occasions with the world’s most renowned conductors. His many concert engagements take him to all important concert venues and international music festivals in Europe, the United States, Asia, South America and Australia.

Highlights during the 2021/22 season include a residency with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and Jonathan Nott, as well as engagements with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and Klaus Mäkelä, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester and Manfred Honeck, the Bamberger Symphoniker and Jakub Hrůša and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and Staatskapelle Berlin, both with Daniele Gatti.

With pianist Martin Helmchen he is performing the complete or partial Beethoven sonata cycle in various major cities in Europe. BIS Records has meanwhile released the complete cycle on 3 CDs.

In 2010 he formed the Trio Zimmermann with viola player Antoine Tamestit and cellist Christian Poltéra; the trio has been performing in all major music centres and festivals in Europe. BIS Records released award-winning CD recordings of works for string trio by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Schoenberg and Hindemith.

Over the years Frank Peter Zimmermann has built up an impressive discography for EMI Classics, Sony Classical, BIS Records, hänssler CLASSIC, Ondine, Decca, Teldec Classics and ECM Records. He has recorded virtually all major concerto repertoire, ranging from Bach to Ligeti, as well as recital repertoire. Many of these highly acclaimed recordings have received prestigious awards and prizes worldwide. Most recent releases include the two violin concertos of Martinů with the Bamberger Symphoniker and Jakub Hrůša, coupled with the solo sonata of Bartók (BIS); the two violin concertos of Shostakovich with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester and Alan Gilbert (BIS; nominated for a Grammy Award); and the violin concertos of J.S. Bach with the Berliner Barock Solisten (hänssler CLASSIC). In September 2021 the Berliner Philharmoniker released a special CD on its own label with Mr. Zimmermann’s performances of the Bartók, Beethoven and Berg concertos under conductors Alan Gilbert, Daniel Harding and Kirill Petrenko resp.

He received a number of special prizes and honours, among which the “Premio del Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Siena” (1990), the “Rheinischer Kulturpreis” (1994), the “Musikpreis” of the city of Duisburg (2002), the “Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse der Bundesrepublik Deutschland” (2008) and the “Paul-Hindemith-Preis der Stadt Hanau” (2010).

Mr. Zimmermann has given four world premieres: Magnus Lindberg’s violin concerto no. 2 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Jaap van Zweden (2015) with further performances with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, both under Daniel Harding and with the New York Philharmonic and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, both under Alan Gilbert. He also premiered the violin concerto “en sourdine” by Matthias Pintscher with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Peter Eötvös (2003), the violin concerto “The Lost Art of Letter Writing” by Brett Dean, who received the 2009 Grawemeyer Award for this composition, with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by the composer (2007) and the violin concerto no. 3 “Juggler in Paradise” by Augusta Read Thomas with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Andrey Boreyko (2009).

Born in 1965 in Duisburg, Germany, Mr. Zimmermann started playing the violin when he was 5 years old, giving his first concert with orchestra at the age of 10. He studied with Valery Gradov, Saschko Gawriloff and Herman Krebbers.

Mr. Zimmermann plays on the 1711 Antonio Stradivari violin “Lady Inchiquin”, which is kindly provided by the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, “Kunst im Landesbesitz”.

Representation

General Management: Nymus Artists
Germany: Michael Kocyan Artists Management
Spain: Duetto Management

Links & downloads


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Concerts

  • September 29, 2021, 7:30 pm
    Geneva, Switzerland
    Victoria Hall
    Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
    Conductor: Jonathan Nott
    Bartók – Rhapsody for violin and orchestra no.2, Sz 90
    Martinu – Suite concertante, H. 276a

    https://www.osr.ch
  • September 30, 2021, 8:15 pm
    Lausanne, Switzerland
    Salle Métropole
    Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
    Conductor: Jonathan Nott
    Bartók – Rhapsody for violin and orchestra no.2, Sz 90
    Martinu – Suite concertante, H. 276a

    https://www.osr.ch
  • October 7, 2021, 8:00 pm
    München, Germany
    Herkulessaal der Residenz
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä
    Bartók – Rhapsody for violin and orchestra no.2, Sz 90
    Martinu – Suite concertante, H. 276a

    http://www.br.de/radio/br-klassik/symphonieorchester/index.html
  • October 8, 2021, 8:00 pm
    München, Germany
    Herkulessaal der Residenz
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä
    Bartók – Rhapsody for violin and orchestra no.2, Sz 90
    Martinu – Suite concertante, H. 276a

    http://www.br.de/radio/br-klassik/symphonieorchester/index.html
  • October 22, 2021, 8:15 pm
    Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ
    Recital
    Piano: Martin Helmchen
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 8 in G major, op. 30 no. 3
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 9 in A major, op. 47 "Kreutzer"
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 10 in G major, op. 96

    https://www.muziekgebouw.nl
  • October 24, 2021, 5:30 pm
    Prague, Czech Republic
    Rudolfinum
    Recital
    Piano: Martin Helmchen
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 8 in G major, op. 30 no. 3
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 9 in A major, op. 47 "Kreutzer"
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 10 in G major, op. 96

    https://www.ceskafilharmonie.cz/en/
  • October 27, 2021, 7:30 pm
    London, United Kingdom
    Wigmore Hall
    Recital
    Piano: Martin Helmchen
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 8 in G major, op. 30 no. 3
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 9 in A major, op. 47 "Kreutzer"
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 10 in G major, op. 96

    http://wigmore-hall.org.uk
  • October 31, 2021, 11:00 am
    München, Germany
    Prinzregententheater
    Recital
    Piano: Martin Helmchen
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 8 in G major, op. 30 no. 3
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 9 in A major, op. 47 "Kreutzer"
    Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 10 in G major, op. 96

    http://www.bellarte-muenchen.de
  • November 4, 2021, 7:30 pm
    Bern, Switzerland
    Kulturcasino Bern
    Berner Symphonieorchester
    Conductor: Enrique Mazzola
    Martinu – Suite concertante, H. 276a
    Bartók – Rhapsody for violin and orchestra no. 1, Sz 87

    https://www.konzerttheaterbern.ch
  • November 7, 2021, 5:00 pm
    Weiden, Germany
    Max-Reger-Halle
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä
    Bartók – Rhapsody for violin and orchestra no.2, Sz 90
    Martinu – Suite concertante, H. 276a

    http://www.br.de/radio/br-klassik/symphonieorchester/index.html
  • November 11, 2021, 7:30 pm
    Bilbao, Spain
    Palacio Euskalduna
    Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa
    Conductor: Erik Nielsen
    Berg – Violin Concerto "Dem Andenken eines Engels"

    https://bilbaorkestra.eus
  • November 12, 2021, 7:30 pm
    Bilbao, Spain
    Palacio Euskalduna
    Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa
    Conductor: Erik Nielsen
    Berg – Violin Concerto "Dem Andenken eines Engels"

    https://bilbaorkestra.eus
  • November 15, 2021, 8:00 pm
    Osnabrück, Germany
    Osnabrückhalle
    Osnabrücker Symphonieorchester
    Conductor: Andreas Hotz
    Berg – Violin Concerto "Dem Andenken eines Engels"

    https://www.theater-osnabrueck.de
  • November 18, 2021, 8:00 pm
    Hamburg, Germany
    Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
    NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
    Conductor: Manfred Honeck
    Martinu – Suite concertante, H. 276a
    Bartók – Rhapsody for violin and orchestra no. 1, Sz 87

    http://www.ndr.de/orchester_chor/elbphilharmonieorchester/index.html
  • November 21, 2021, 11:00 am
    Hamburg, Germany
    Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
    NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
    Conductor: Manfred Honeck
    Martinu – Suite concertante, H. 276a
    Bartók – Rhapsody for violin and orchestra no. 1, Sz 87

    http://www.ndr.de/orchester_chor/elbphilharmonieorchester/index.html
  • November 29, 2021, 8:00 pm
    Mannheim, Germany
    Congress Center Rosengarten
    Nationaltheater-Orchester Mannheim
    Conductor: Alexander Soddy
    Martinu – Suite concertante, H. 276a
    Bartók – Rhapsody for violin and orchestra no. 1, Sz 87

    http://musikalische-akademie.de
  • November 30, 2021, 8:00 pm
    Mannheim, Germany
    Congress Center Rosengarten
    Nationaltheater-Orchester Mannheim
    Conductor: Alexander Soddy
    Martinu – Suite concertante, H. 276a
    Bartók – Rhapsody for violin and orchestra no. 1, Sz 87

    http://musikalische-akademie.de
  • December 9, 2021, 8:00 pm
    Stuttgart, Germany
    Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor: Jakub Hrůša
    Schumann – Violin Concerto in d minor, WoO 23

    https://www.bamberger-symphoniker.de
  • December 11, 2021, 8:00 pm
    Bamberg, Germany
    Konzerthalle Bamberg
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor: Jakub Hrůša
    Schumann – Violin Concerto in d minor, WoO 23

    https://www.bamberger-symphoniker.de
  • December 12, 2021, 5:00 pm
    Bamberg, Germany
    Konzerthalle Bamberg
    Bamberger Symphoniker
    Conductor: Jakub Hrůša
    Schumann – Violin Concerto in d minor, WoO 23

    https://www.bamberger-symphoniker.de
  • December 17, 2021, 8:00 pm
    Köln, Germany
    Kölner Philharmonie
    WDR Sinfonieorchester
    Conductor: Marek Janowski
    Berg – Violin Concerto "Dem Andenken eines Engels"

    https://www1.wdr.de/orchester-und-chor/sinfonieorchester/
  • December 18, 2021, 8:00 pm
    Köln, Germany
    Kölner Philharmonie
    WDR Sinfonieorchester
    Conductor: Marek Janowski
    Berg – Violin Concerto "Dem Andenken eines Engels"

    https://www1.wdr.de/orchester-und-chor/sinfonieorchester/
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Reviews

“Hier, in diesem halsbrecherisch zarten Perpetuum mobile, zeigt auch Zimmermann wieder seine ganze Größe. Denn selbst im atemlosen Hauch findet…” →“Hier, in diesem halsbrecherisch zarten Perpetuum mobile, zeigt auch Zimmermann wieder seine ganze Größe. Denn selbst im atemlosen Hauch findet er noch Gelegenheit zur Gestaltung, zur melodischen und rhythmischen Gewichtung, zum Augenzwinkern und Charmieren.” ←
– Leipziger VZ, 25/05/2018
“Zimmermann père has recently been reunited with the ‘Lady Inchiquin’ Strad, and it’s an instrument whose entire range he is…” →“Zimmermann père has recently been reunited with the ‘Lady Inchiquin’ Strad, and it’s an instrument whose entire range he is able to imbue with the same lucid, balanced tonal quality. There is a sweetness to the high-flying lyricism in the slow movement of BWV1042, where Zimmermann floats the solo line, vibratoless, over the orchestra, lending the movement an almost other-worldly colouring. In the following Allegro assai finale he brings a deftness of touch and a lightly sprung, dance-like lilt; however, the finale of BWV1052R is more outwardly breathtaking, with its breakneck multiple-stopping and string-crossing.” ←
– The Strad, 28/03/2018
“…Frank Peter Zimmermann’s vividly recorded performances stand out as formidable achievements. They match technical mastery at the highest level with…” →“…Frank Peter Zimmermann’s vividly recorded performances stand out as formidable achievements. They match technical mastery at the highest level with profound insight. … Zimmermann’s stunning negotiation of the cadenza (…) moves inexorably from morbid introspection to one of the most visceral outpourings of anger and aggression in violin literature. The sheer firepower Zimmermann draws from his 1711 Stradivarius is electrifying both in the klezmer-inflected grotesque dance of the Scherzo and the breathless race to the finishing line in the Burleske.” ←
– BBC Music Magazine (Recording of the month, 01/03/2017
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“Er hat alles, was einen wirklich großen Künstler ausmacht, und das ist: Man bekommt, was man erwartet und ist gleichzeitig…” →“Er hat alles, was einen wirklich großen Künstler ausmacht, und das ist: Man bekommt, was man erwartet und ist gleichzeitig fasziniert, wie perfekt das Ergebnis alles Erwartete übertrifft, wie ein Künstler aus allseits Bekanntem wie Mozarts Violinkonzerten jenes Quantum Glück herauskitzelt, das man sich seit David Oistrakh so oft erhofft hat.” ←
– Süddeutsche Zeitung , 17/02/2015
“Throughout the performance the violinist was in full command of the piece’s sawing and darting passages. His tone, in the…” →“Throughout the performance the violinist was in full command of the piece’s sawing and darting passages. His tone, in the process, displayed a variety of colors, from dusky low notes to high phrases laced in silver. The second movement of the concerto is one of Bartók’s most beautiful passages. There, Zimmermann found the hints of yearning romanticism, unwinding the line with a singing tone that was answered with soft a blanket of sound by the BSO strings. The quicker section moved with a fittingly awkward, impish gate, and the third movement moved with an off-kilter lilt. The violinist’s gnarly runs, there, took on a fiery energy. Zimmermann’s blazing encore, Ernst Schliephake’s transcription of Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G minor, Op. 23, No. 5, put a finishing touch on a thoroughly dramatic performance.” ←
– Boston Classical Review, 14/10/2016