Frank Peter Zimmermann

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.