Since first appearing on our series in 1991, Christian Tetzlaff has become an internationally-acclaimed violinist in demand in concert halls around the world. He has performed and recorded a broad spectrum of the repertoire from Bach to Berg, and beyond.
Tetzlaff. Solo violin. Nothing could be more compelling.
“From his very first entrance, this was viscerally explosive violin playing, but always with a sense of purpose and richness of inner life.” –Boston Globe
Program
Program to include works by Bach, Bartok, Kurtág and Ysaÿe.
Links
Learn more about Christian Tetzlaff.
Biography
An artist known for his musical integrity, technical assurance and intelligent, compelling interpretations, Christian Tetzlaff is internationally recognized as one of the most important violinists of his generation.
From the outset of his career, Mr. Tetzlaff has performed and recorded a broad spectrum of the repertoire, ranging from Bach’s unaccompanied sonatas and partitas to 19th century masterworks by Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Brahms; and from 20th century concertos by Bartok, Berg and Shostakovich to world premieres of contemporary works. Also a dedicated chamber musician, he frequently collaborates with distinguished artists including Leif Ove Andsnes, Lars Vogt and Alexander Lonquich and is the founder of the Tetzlaff Quartet, which he formed in 1994 with violinist Elisabeth Kufferath, violist Hanna Weinmeister and his sister, cellist Tanja Tetzlaff.
Born in Hamburg in 1966, music occupied a central place in his family and his three siblings are all professional musicians. Mr. Tetzlaff began playing the violin and piano at age six, but pursued a regular academic education while continuing his musical studies. He did not begin intensive study of the violin until making his concert debut playing the Beethoven Violin Concerto at the age of 14 and attributes the establishment of his musical outlook to his teacher at the conservatory in Lübeck, Uwe-Martin Haiberg, who placed equal stress on interpretation and technique. Mr. Tetzlaff came to the United States during the 1985-86 academic year to work with Walter Levine at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and also spent two summers at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont.
Mr. Tetzlaff has been in demand as a soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, establishing close artistic partnerships that are renewed season after season. Mr. Tetzlaff has performed with the orchestras of Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Toronto, among many others in North America, as well as with the major European ensembles including the Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, Vienna Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.
Highlights of Mr. Tetzlaff’s 12/13 season in North America include appearances with the New York Philharmonic, the Pittsburgh, New World and Montreal symphonies, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and a three concert chamber music project at the 92nd St. Y in New York. European highlights include return visits to the Berlin and London Philharmonics, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris and the London Symphony.
Christian Tetzlaff was a 2010-11 Carnegie Hall Perspectives artist, an initiative in which musicians are invited to curate a personal concert series in Carnegie and Zankel Halls through collaborations with other musicians and ensembles. Mr. Tetzlaff’s Perspectives included an appearance with the Boston Symphony during which he played concertos by Mozart, Bartok and the New York premiere of a new concerto by Harrison Birtwistle; a play/conduct performance with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s; a performance with the Ensemble ACJW led by Sir Simon Rattle; a concert with the Tetzlaff Quartet; and a duo-recital with violinist Antje Weithaas. He also led a Professional Training Workshop for young violinists and pianists, culminating in a young artist concert.
Tetzlaff’s highly regarded recordings reflect the breadth of his musical interests and include solo works, chamber music and concertos ranging from Haydn to Bartok. His recent recordings include Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Russian National Orchestra and Kent Nagano for PentaTone Classics; Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Tonhalle Orchestra and David Zinman for Arte Nova; the complete Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin for the Musical Heritage and Haenssler labels; Berg’s Chamber Concerto for piano, violin with 13 wind instruments with Mitsuko Uchida and the Ensemble Intercontemporain led by Pierre Boulez for Decca; and Schumann’s Three Piano Trios with Leif Ove Andsnes and Tanja Tetzlaff for EMI/Virgin. Mr. Tetzlaff’s latest recordings include Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Vienna Philharmonic led by Mr. Boulez for Deutsche Grammophon; the Schumann and Mendelssohn Violin Concertos with Frankfurt Radio Orchestra and Paavo Järvi for Edel Classics; and Schönberg’s String Quartet No. 1 and Sibelius’s Quartet op. 56 with the Tetzlaff Quartet on the AVI label.
Christian Tetzlaff currently performs on a violin modeled after a Guarneri del Gesu made by the German violin maker, Peter Greiner. In honor of his artistic achievements, Musical America named Mr. Tetzlaff “Instrumentalist of the Year” in 2005.
Peak Performances at the Playhouse Series is sponsored by
