Introducing: Gidon Kremer

Gidon Kremer, a world-renowned violinist with a repertoire that, alongside expertise in standard classical scores, has pushed forward, highlighting twentieth- and twenty-first-century composers in performance. On June 18, he joins the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in the Sheldonian Theatre for a night that reflects this diversity, with Schnittke’s polystylistic third violin concerto sandwiched among three compelling works by Mozart: the first of his divertimenti for strings, Serenade No. 6 and Symphony No. 35.

On 27 February 1947, Gidon Kremer was born in Riga, then the capital of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, part of the Soviet Union.

At the age of four, Kremer first took up the family instrument, taught by fellow violinists, his parents and grandfather. He studied at the Riga School of Music, then at the Moscow Conservatory under David Oistrakh.

From 1967, the awards started to roll in for Kremer. Third at the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels; second at the Montreal International Violin Competition; then first prize at the Paganini Competition in Genoa and the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. His first concert in the West followed shortly after, playing alongside Thomas Schippers and the Vienna Philharmonic at the iconic Musikverein.

An iconic 1976 recording and subsequent concert in which Kremer joined the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, led the maestro to call the player ‘the best violinist of our time’.

A few years later, and already with quite the resume, Kremer left the USSR to settle in Germany. He soon founded a chamber music festival in Lockenhaus, Austria. The town has become synonymous with the festival, and Kremer served as artistic director for thirty years before leaving the position in 2011.

With a career continuing to flourish, nearing the end of the twentieth century, Kremer founded the Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra. He intentionally brought on young players from across the Baltic region, supporting the next generation and passing on his rich artistic experience. Another reason, however, was that Kremer sought out players who were young and enthusiastic, open to creative programming and new compositions from outside the mainstream repertoire. To date, they have performed over 1000 concerts in 50 countries.

Throughout his career, Kremer has championed contemporary composers, including Alfred Schnittke, Arvo Pärt, Giya Kancheli, Sofia Gubaidulina and Phillip Glass. He’s also been a key component of the rediscovery of composer Mieczysław Weinberg.

An intellectual performer who is determined in vision and characterful in style, taking to the stage in Oxford. We look forward to welcoming both Gidon Kremer and you to the Sheldonian Theatre on June 18^th, doors at 19:00. Find tickets for the event on our website here.

Cover photo by Angie Kremer

Violin virtuoso Gidon Kremer joins the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra alongside conductor and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos, for an evening of exceptional music. The programme will include music by Gubaidulina and Schnittke, both of whom composed for Kremer and are an integral part of his musical universe. Known for his passionate playing, Kremer brings his brilliance to the stage in a performance full of intensity and emotional depth.

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