Anne-Sophie Mutter
For almost three decades, Anne-Sophie Mutter has ranked among the outstanding violin virtuosos of our time. She was born in Rheinfelden in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and began her international career in 1976 at the Lucerne Festival. One year later, she appeared as a soloist at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival under the baton of Herbert von Karajan. Since then, Anne-Sophie Mutter has given concerts in all the major music centres in Europe, the USA and Asia. As well as performing great traditional works, she constantly introduces new repertoire items to her audiences, consisting of chamber music pieces and orchestral works in equal measure. She also makes use of her popularity to help benefit projects and promote the new generation of up-and-coming young musicians.
Anne-Sophie Mutter has won a string of awards for her numerous recordings, including the German Record Prize, the Record Academy Prize, the Grand Prix du Disque, the International Record Prize and several GRAMMYs. Her recordings of the Previn violin concerto and the Bernstein Serenade were recently nominated for two GRAMMYs. Meanwhile, her recordings of violin concertos by Dutilleux, Bartók and Stravinsky will be released in spring 2005. This will be the first time the Dutilleux work has been available on disc.
Anne-Sophie Mutter has a special interest in contemporary violin music. Witold Lutoslawski, Norbert Moret, Krzysztof Penderecki, Wolfgang Rihm, Henri Dutilleux, Sebastian Currier and Sir André Previn have all dedicated works to her. Another premiere is planned for 2007, featuring the violin concerto by Sofia Gubaidulina.
In 1987, she founded the Rudolf Eberle Foundation, which promotes young string players throughout Europe. The Foundation’s activities were complemented in autumn 1997 by the establishment of the Anne-Sophie Mutter Circle of Friends Foundation, which is based in Munich and operates worldwide.
Anne-Sophie Mutter is holder of the Order of the Federal Republic of Germany (First Class), the Bavarian Order of Merit and the Medal of Merit (Verdienstmedaille) of the state of Baden-Württemberg. She was also recently awarded the Austrian Honorary Cross for Science and Art. In January 2002, she received the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art, and also the Cultural Award of Honour of the Bavarian capital, Munich. In June 2003, the Bavarian State Ministry of Science, Research and Art bestowed on her the 'Pro Meritis Scientiae et Litterarum' distinction.
In the first half of 2009, apart from concerts in Poland, the artist is planning to premier Gubaidulina's In tempus praesens in Germany, Spain, the USA and André Previn's Concerto for Violin, Contrabass and Orchestra. She will also perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto and the composer's other works on a European tour with the Oslo Philharmonic and then appear in Montreal, San Francisco and New York. Together with Sir André Previn (piano) and Lynn Harrell (violoncello) she will be performing the works of Mendelssohn and Mozart. Later on she will premier André Previn's Second Trio in Carnegie Hall. Yet another premier of a work by Sir André Previn will follow to celebrate his 80th birthday in New York: his Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra will be performed by Anne-Sophie Mutter, Yuri Bashmet (viola) and the Orchestra of St. Luke's under the direction of André Previn himself.
Anne-Sophie Mutter will be taking a “sabbatical” during the second half of 2009 and will not return to the world concert stage until January 2010.
Anne-Sophie Mutter also uses her popularity for charity projects and supports the development of young, exceptionally talented musicians. She takes a special interest in the medical and social problems of our time. For example, she will be performing at the Warsaw Beethoven Festival for her foundation.