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 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

Links & downloads


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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
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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