Frank Peter Zimmermann

Capell-Virtuos 2024/2025

In a radio interview with the Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk at the end of his 2018/2019 residency, Frank Peter Zimmermann described the term »Capell-Virtuos« as rather more »nostalgic and noble« than the standard English designation of »Artist-in-Residence«. At that time, the star violinist, who shuns all forms of self-promotion, had already collaborated on several projects with the Staatskapelle. During his season in Dresden, he performed Mendelssohn’s E minor concerto and Martinů’s Second Violin Concerto for local audiences and accompanied the orchestra and Christian Thielemann on a European tour as well as to their residency at the Salzburg Easter Festival. At the end of this rewarding partnership, Zimmermann had nothing but praise for Thielemann, the orchestra players and the extraordinary Staatskapelle sound: »Dresden is unique in all respects.«

Frank Peter Zimmermann is one of the leading violinists of our age, even though he »only« plays around 80 concerts per season and is also particularly selective in his choice of repertoire. Generally, he spends two to three months studying just one of the great violin concertos, taking time to develop his interpretation and finding new ideas on the way as well as in performance. This, he says, is of course only possible with special orchestras and conductors – including Daniele Gatti, the Staatskapelle’s new Principal Conductor, with whom Zimmermann has already appeared on stage on several occasions.

In the 2024/2025 season, the Staatskapelle Dresden is for the first time welcoming back one of its »Capell Virtuosos« for a second season in Dresden. Born in Duisburg in 1965, Frank Peter Zimmermann enjoyed considerable success at an early age. Over the years, he has made guest appearances at all the major music festivals and performed with all of the world’s top orchestras. His first appearance with the Staatskapelle was back in September 1992 when he played Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A minor.

Zimmermann’s repertoire ranges from the Baroque age to the present day. In recent years, he has premiered four contemporary violin concertos, namely the second violin concerto by Magnus Lindberg, »Juggler in Paradise« by Augusta Read Thomas, »The Lost Art of Letter Writing« by Brett Dean and »en sourdine« by Matthias Pintscher. Together with violist Antoine Tamestit and cellist Christian Poltéra, he founded the Trio Zimmermann, which performs at all of Europe’s great classical music venues.

For many years, Zimmermann has played the »Lady Inchiquin« violin, made in 1711 by Antonio Stradivari, which has been loaned to him by the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, »Kunst im Landesbesitz«.