Frank Peter Zimmermann
ViolinFrank 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.
Read moreFrank 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 2023/24 season include a tour with the Wiener Philharmoniker and Daniel Harding, concerts with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Staatskapelle Dresden and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, all conducted by Mr. Harding, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Edward Gardner, the Bayerisches Staatsorchester and Vladimir Jurowski, the Bamberger Symphoniker and Andrew Manze, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and Kazuki Yamada, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester and Alan Gilbert, as well as with the Montreal and Toronto Symphony Orchestras, conducted by Rafael Payare and Gustavo Gimeno resp.. He also gives recitals in Europe with pianists Martin Helmchen and Dmytro Choni.
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 complete sonatas for piano and violin of Beethoven with Martin Helmchen (BIS); a sonata and two partitas of J.S. Bach (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. In 2022 it received both the Gramophone Award and the Jahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik.
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).
In 2010 he founded the Trio Zimmermann with viola player Antoine Tamestit and cellist Christian Poltéra; the trio performed in all major music centres and festivals in Europe for well over a decade. BIS Records released award-winning CD recordings of works for string trio by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Schoenberg and Hindemith.
Mr. Zimmermann has given world premieres of Magnus Lindberg’s violin concerto no. 2, Matthias Pintscher’s violin concerto “en sourdine”, Brett Dean’s violin concerto “The Lost Art of Letter Writing” and of Augusta Read Thomas’ violin concerto no. 3 “Juggler in Paradise”.
Born in 1965 in Duisburg, Germany, he 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.
Frank Peter 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
Italy: Lorenzo Baldrighi Artists Management
Spain: Duetto Management
Concerts
- September 29, 2023, 7:30 pm
Vienna, Austria
Musikverein
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.musikverein.at - September 30, 2023, 3:30 pm
Vienna, Austria
Musikverein
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en/ - October 1, 2023, 11:00 am
Vienna, Austria
Musikverein
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en/ - October 3, 2023, 8:00 pm
Brussels, Belgium
Palais des Beaux-Arts | Palais voor Schone Kunsten
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.bozar.be - October 4, 2023, 7:30 pm
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Philharmonie Luxembourg
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.philharmonie.lu/ - October 6, 2023, 8:00 pm
Köln, Germany
Kölner Philharmonie
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.koelner-philharmonie.de/en/ - October 7, 2023, 8:00 pm
Frankfurt, Germany
Alte Oper Frankfurt
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.alteoper.de - October 8, 2023, 3:00 pm
München, Germany
Herkulessaal der Residenz
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.muenchenmusik.de - October 26, 2023, 8:00 pm
Hamburg, Germany
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
Conductor: Alan Gilbert
Stravinsky – Violin Concerto in D major
http://www.ndr.de/orchester_chor/elbphilharmonieorchester/index.html - October 29, 2023, 11:00 am
Hamburg, Germany
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
Conductor: Alan Gilbert
Stravinsky – Violin Concerto in D major
http://www.ndr.de/orchester_chor/elbphilharmonieorchester/index.html - November 3, 2023, 7:00 pm
München, Germany
Prinzregententheater
Henle Verlag Gala Concert
Piano: Martin Helmchen
Brahms – Sonata no. 1 in G major for violin and piano, op.78
https://www.muenchenmusik.de - November 7, 2023, 8:30 pm
Milano, Italy
Sala Verdi - Conservatorio di Milano
Recital
Piano: Dmytro Choni
Beethoven – Sonata for piano and violin no. 4 in a minor, op. 23
Bartók – Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano, Sz.75
Brahms – Sonata no. 1 in G major for violin and piano, op.78
https://www.quartettomilano.it - November 11, 2023, 5:00 pm
Elmau, Oberbayern, Germany
Schloss Elmau
Recital
Piano: Martin Helmchen
Brahms – Sonatensatz "FAE Sonate", Op. 5: Scherzo
Brahms – Sonata for clarinet and piano no. 1 in F minor, op. 120, no. 1 (transcribed for violin)
Bartók – Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano, Sz.75
https://www.schloss-elmau.de/en/ - November 12, 2023, 5:00 pm
Lugano, Switzerland
Sala Teatro
Recital
Piano: Martin Helmchen
Brahms – Sonata for clarinet and piano no. 1 in F minor, op. 120, no. 1 (transcribed for violin)
Bartók – Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano, Sz.75
Brahms – Sonatensatz "FAE Sonate", Op. 5: Scherzo
Brahms – Sonata no. 1 in G major for violin and piano, op.78
https://www.luganomusica.ch - November 15, 2023, 7:30 pm
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Philharmonie Luxembourg
Recital
Piano: Martin Helmchen
Brahms – Sonata for clarinet and piano no. 1 in F minor, op. 120, no. 1 (transcribed for violin)
Bartók – Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano, Sz.75
Brahms – Sonatensatz "FAE Sonate", Op. 5: Scherzo
Brahms – Sonata no. 1 in G major for violin and piano, op.78
https://www.philharmonie.lu - November 18, 2023, 8:15 pm
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ
Recital
Piano: Martin Helmchen
Brahms – Sonata for clarinet and piano no. 1 in F minor, op. 120, no. 1 (transcribed for violin)
Bartók – Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano, Sz.75
Brahms – Sonatensatz "FAE Sonate", Op. 5: Scherzo
Brahms – Sonata no. 1 in G major for violin and piano, op.78
https://www.muziekgebouw.nl - November 20, 2023, 7:30 pm
Bilbao, Spain
Sociedad Filarmónica de Bilbao
Recital
Piano: Martin Helmchen
Brahms – Sonata for clarinet and piano no. 1 in F minor, op. 120, no. 1 (transcribed for violin)
Bartók – Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano, Sz.75
Brahms – Sonatensatz "FAE Sonate", Op. 5: Scherzo
Brahms – Sonata no. 1 in G major for violin and piano, op.78
http://www.filarmonica.org - November 21, 2023,
Castellón, Spain
Auditorio y Palacio de Congresos de Castellón
Recital
Piano: Martin Helmchen
Brahms – Sonata for clarinet and piano no. 1 in F minor, op. 120, no. 1 (transcribed for violin)
Bartók – Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano, Sz.75
Brahms – Sonatensatz "FAE Sonate", Op. 5: Scherzo
Brahms – Sonata no. 1 in G major for violin and piano, op.78
https://ivc.gva.es/es/escena/programacion-escena/auditorio-y-palacio-de-congresos-castello - November 24, 2023, 7:30 pm
London, United Kingdom
Wigmore Hall
Recital
Piano: Martin Helmchen
Brahms – Sonata for clarinet and piano no. 1 in F minor, op. 120, no. 1 (transcribed for violin)
Bartók – Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano, Sz.75
Brahms – Sonatensatz "FAE Sonate", Op. 5: Scherzo
Brahms – Sonata no. 1 in G major for violin and piano, op.78
http://wigmore-hall.org.uk - November 25, 2023, 8:00 pm
Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Salle Yakov Kreizberg - Auditorium Rainier III
Recital
Piano: Martin Helmchen
Brahms – Sonata for clarinet and piano no. 1 in F minor, op. 120, no. 1 (transcribed for violin)
Bartók – Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano, Sz.75
Brahms – Sonatensatz "FAE Sonate", Op. 5: Scherzo
Brahms – Sonata no. 1 in G major for violin and piano, op.78
https://www.opmc.mc - December 1, 2023, 7:30 pm
Valencia, Spain
Palau de la Musica de Valencia
Orquesta de Valencia
Conductor: Alexander Liebreich
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.palauvalencia.com/ - December 8, 2023, 7:00 pm
Stockholm, Sweden
Berwaldhallen
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.srso.se - December 9, 2023, 3:00 pm
Stockholm, Sweden
Berwaldhallen
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Daniel Harding
Elgar – Violin Concerto in b minor, op. 61
https://www.srso.se