ARTIST PROFILE

Anne-Sophie Mutter

BIOGRAPHY

For nearly three decades Anne-Sophie Mutter has been one of the greatest violin virtuosos of our time. Born in Rheinfelden in the state of Baden, the violinist launched her international career at the Lucerne Festival in 1979. A year later she performed as a soloist at the Salzburg Whitsun Concerts under the direction of Herbert von Karajan. Since then Anne-Sophie Mutter has performed concerts in all the major music centers of Europe, the USA and Asia. In addition to performing major traditional works she has continually treated her audiences to new and innovative repertoires: chamber music and orchestral works presented on equal terms. She also uses here popularity for charity projects and supports the development of young, exceptionally talented musicians.

The honors afforded Anne-Sophie Mutter for her many recordings include the German Record Prize, the Record Academy Prize, the Grand Prix du Disque, the International Record Prize and several Grammies. In honor of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 250th birthday Anne-Sophie Mutter recorded in three sessions all of Mozart's major compositions for violin on the Deutsche Grammophon label. The Mozart Project, which she performed worldwide, is also available on DVD. She recorded the violin concertos and the Sinfonia Concertante together with violist Yuri Bashmet and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra was directed by the violinist herself. The two sonatas were performed together with Lambert Orkis, and the piano concertos were recorded together with Sir André Previn and Daniel Müller-Schott. She was awarded the "Le Monde de la Musique" and "Record Geijutsu", both for the year 2006, for her Mozart Project.

The artist takes special pride in performing contemporary compositions for violin. Sebastian Currier, Henri Dutilleux, Sofia Gubaidulina, Witold Lutoslawski, Norbert Moret, Krzysztof Penderecki, Sir André Previn and Wolfgang Rihm have all dedicated works to her. Further premiere performances of the chamber orchestra works of Penderetzki and Rihm are currently being planned.

In 1987 Anne-Sophie Mutter established the Rudolf Eberle Foundation, which supports young string instrumentalists from all over Europe. In the fall of 1997 the foundation was relocated to Munich where it coexists with the Friends of Anne Sophie Mutter Foundation, which supports young, talented musicians worldwide.

Anne-Sophie Mutter also takes a special interest in the medical and social problems of our time. She regularly lends her support to these causes through charitable concerts. For example, in 2007 she will perform for the benefit of a young girls' home in the Rumanian city of Orlat.

Anne-Sophie Mutter is a bearer of the Order of Merit of the German Federal Republic, 1st Class, the Bavarian Order of Merit, the Austrian Honor Cross, the "Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" and has received many other awards.