Leonidas Kavacos

Violinist, conductor

Leonidas Kavakos is recognised across the world as a violinist and artist of rare quality, acclaimed for his matchless technique, his captivating artistry and his superb musicianship, and the integrity of his playing. Kavakos works regularly with the world’s greatest orchestras and conductors and appears in recital at the world’s premier recital halls and festivals. In recent years, Kavakos has built a strong profile as a conductor and has conducted such orchestras as New York Philharmonic, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Dallas Symphony, Vienna Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Filarmonica della Scala. Kavakos’s award-winning discography includes the Beethoven Violin Concerto (Sony Classical) which he conducted and played with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, and the re-release of his 2007 recording of the complete Beethoven Sonatas with Enrico Pace, for which he was named ECHO Klassik Instrumentalist of the Year. In 2022 Kavakos released ‘Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale” and Op.1, No. 3’ arranged for trio, with regular recital partners Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma. Further albums from this series containing arrangements of Beethoven Symphonies will be released in coming years. With his chamber group the ApollΩn Ensemble, he recently released ‘Bach: Violin Concertos’ on Sony Classical to critical acclaim. Born into a musical family in Athens, Kavakos curates an annual violin and chamber music masterclass in Athens, which attracts violinists and ensembles from all over the world. In 2022, he was declared a regular member of the Chair of Music in the Second Class of Letters and Fine Arts for his services to music. Kavakos plays the ‘Willemotte’
Stradivarius violin of 1734.