Schedule for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Le nozze di Figaro. Overture. Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Violin Concerto. Johannes Brahms. Symphony No 3, Hungarian Dances No 1, 5. Conducted by Maxim Vengerov (Mozart, Brams) 2022

Composer: Peter Tchaikovsky
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Composer: Johannes Brahms

Orchestra: Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra

Soloist: Ray Chen

Conductor: Maxim Vengerov

Ray Chen
Born in 1989, Ray Chen began violin studies at the age of 4, enrolling in the Suzuki Music Education in Queensland, Australia. He made his first solo orchestral debut at the age of 8 with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1998 he was invited to perform at the opening celebration concert of the Nagano Winter Olympics in Japan. In the following year he was chosen as Australiaґs 4MBSґs Young Space Musician of the Year. At the age of 11, Ray received an award with distinction for his Licentiate of Music from the Australian Music Examinations Board and was also awarded the Sydney May Memorial Scholarship. His most recent achievement has been winning 1st Prize in the Senior Section of the 2008 International Yehudi Menuhin Competition held in Cardiff, Wales. In 2004 he won 3rd prize in the Junior Section of the International Yehudi Menuhin Competition held in London. He has won 1st Prize in numerous national violin competitions in Australia including the 2005 National Kendall Violin Competition, and the 2002 National Youth Concerto Competition. For the past two summers, Ray attended Encore School for Strings, studying under David Cerone (Cleveland Institute of Music). This year he will be attending The Aspen Music Festival on a full tuition fellowship to study with Cho-Liang Lin (Juilliard) and Paul Kantor (Cleveland Institute of Music). His Australian violin teachers have included Kerry Smith (Queensland Conservatory) and Professor Peter Zhang (Sydney Conservatory). He currently studies with Aaron Rosand at the Curtis Institute of Music.

Maxim Vengerov
Maxim Vengerov is one of the worldґs leading violinists. Vengerov gave his first concert aged five. At the age of ten after studying with Galina Turchaninova and Professor Zakhar Bron he won first prize at the International Karl Flesch Violinistsґ Competition, confirming his reputation as an outstanding musician. Vengerovґs achievements also include nominations such as: Gramophoneґs "Young artist of the year" and Ritmoґs "Artist of the year" (Italy) in 1994; Gramophoneґs "Recording of the year" prize and Grammy for "Best classical album of the year" and "Best solo instrumentalist with orchestra" in 1996; the Edison Prize for "Best concert recording" in 1997; Gramophoneґs "Artist of the year" in 2002; and the Edison Prize and a Grammy for "Best solo instrumentalist of the year" (with orchestra for his rendition of Brittenґs Violin Concerto and Waltonґs Viola Concerto with London Symphony Orchestra under Mstislav Rostropovich in 2004). Since October 2000 Vengerov has been a professor of violin studies at the Saarland Conservatoire. Maxim Vengerov often appears as a soloist and conductor with leading orchestras and works with outstanding conductors. He made his violin debut on a baroque violin and recently began to play the viola. He often appears in concert throughout the world on tour. After a break in 2005 and 2006, Vengerov renewed his concert activities with a series of world tours, performing Mozart concerti with the UBS Verbier Chamber Orchestra and a solo tour performing Mozart, Beethoven, Prokofiev and Shostakovich. He regularly performs on a Stradivarius that once belonged to renowned violinist Rodolphe Kreutzer.