Leonidas Kavakos

Leonidas Kavakos (born in 1967) is a Greek violinist. He has established himself as one of the most sought after young virtuoso violinists and appears regularly with leading orchestras and in recital throughout the world.

Beginnings

Born in Athens into a musical family, Kavakos began studying violin at five years old and continued his studies at the Greek National Conservatoire with Stelios Kafantaris. An Onassis Foundation scholarship enabled him to attend master classes with Josef Gingold at Indiana University. He made his concert debut at the Athens Festival in 1984. In 1985, at age 18 (the youngest contestant), he won the International Sibelius Competition in Helsinki and in 1986 won silver medal in the Indianapolis International Violin Competition. He also took first prizes at the Naumburg Competition in New York (1988) and the Paganini Violin Competition (1988)—all by the age of 21.

Performances

America

His United States debut was in 1986 and, the following year, gave recitals at venues across the country. Kavakos now tours North America annually and works with numerous major orchestras, including the Chicago, and Montreal Symphony Orchestras.

Europe

In Europe, following his competition win in Helsinki, Kavakos' reputation spread quickly. He now works extensively in major concert halls across the continent, working with world class orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. He has appeared at festivals such as the Verbier Festival, Salzburg Festival, where he first appeared in 1994, the Lucerne Festival, and the Stars of White Nights Festival. He has appeared throughout the UK with numerous orchestras, starting in 1992 performing the Stravinsky concerto at the London Proms.

Asia

Kavakos made a highly successful Japanese debut in 1988 including a recital at Tokyo's Casals Hall and has since toured Japan with the English Chamber Orchestra and given concerts with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and the New Japan Philharmonic.

Recordings

Having won the Sibelius contest, Kavakos went on to win another coveted distinction, once again working on Sibelius. He won the 1991 Gramophone Concerto of the Year Award for the world premiere release on the BIS label of the Sibelius Violin Concerto in both its final version and in the original 1903/04, version. He has made various other recordings for Delos and Finlandia Records with works by composers such as Debussy, Paganini, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Wieniawski and Ysaÿe.2006 he recorded for SONY/BMG five violin concertos and one symphony by W.A.Mozart as soloist and conductor of the Camerata Salzburg.

Chamber Music

Kavakos is also a keen chamber music performer, and presents his own chamber music festival annually in his home town of Athens as well as performing in many international festivals.

Conducting

Kavakos is also working as a conductor. He was announced principle guest artist of the Camerata Salzburg in 2001 and performed with them as a soloist and conductor. He is designated as artistic director of the Camerata Salzburg and will follow Sir Roger Norrington 2007 in this position.

Trivia

Kavakos plays the "Falmouth" Stradivarius of 1692.

External links

* [http://www.intermusica.co.uk/artists/Violin-Viola/Leonidas-Kavakos/biography Intermusica Kavakos page]