EUROPEAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016

28 March 2016, Bulgaria Concert Hall, 19:30

WORLD VIOLIN VIRTUOSOS
SHLOMO MINTZ, violin
(Soloist and Conductor)
Classic FM Radio Orchestra
Program: J. S. Bach –  Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
I. Vivace (first movement)
Soloists: MARTIN ZAYRANOV, Violin – 2015 Young Virtuosi Competition Prizewinner and Cantus Firmus Special Award Recipient, and LUDMIL NENCHEV, Violin – Concertmaster of the Classic FM Radio Orchestra
J. S. Bach; Violin Concertos
P. I. Tchaikovsky: Serenade for strings
B. Britten: Simple Symphony

Critics, colleagues and audiences regard Shlomo Mintz as one of the foremost violinists of our time, esteemed for his impeccable musicianship, stylistic versatility and commanding technique alike. Born in Moscow in 1957, he immigrated to Israel and studied the violin with Ilona Feher. At the age of 11, he made his concert debut with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and at the age of 16 he made his debut in Carnegie Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, under the patronage of Isaac Stern. Since then he is a celebrated guest with orchestras and conductors on the international music scene, and has appeared with historical musicians like Sergiu Celibidache, Pablo Casals, Eugene Ormandy, Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Mistislav Rosptropovich and Carlo Maria Giulini. In the 2012/2013 Season, he celebrated his 50th anniversary with the National Orchestra of France in a special concert at the Champs Elysées Theatre as a conductor and a soloist.

A regular President of Jury (Wieniawski / Sion / Munetsugu violin competitions) and Artistic Director of many International Music Festivals, he is currently sought after Master Classes all over the world. Mintz is also a co-founder of Violins of Hope, a project that aims to promote peace through music.
He has won several prestigious prizes including the Premio Internazionale Accademia Musicale Chigiana, the Diapason D’Or, the Grand Prix du Disque, the Gramophone Award and the Edison Award. In 2006 he was awarded an Honorary Degree from the Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, Israel.