Published: 23 April 2012
Category: Artists

Leonidas Kavakos has signed an exclusive contract with Decca. His first release with the historic label will be a complete set of the Beethoven violin sonatas with regular recital partner Enrico Pace. The recording will be launched in time for his complete cycle at this summer’s Salzburg Festival. Kavakos will also play complete Beethoven cycles at the Vienna Musikverein as well as in Athens, Milan, Amsterdam and Florence.

One of the world's finest violinists, Kavakos is known at the highest level for his virtuosity, superb musicianship and the integrity of his playing.

Managing Director of Decca Classics, Paul Moseley, said: “Since his pioneering recording of the original Sibelius concerto 20 years ago, Leonidas Kavakos has slowly and surely risen to the top of the violinists’ tree. He is now the first choice of great conductors and orchestras around the world. With Leonidas possibilities begin where most other violinists run out of options. So the time is right for Decca to team up with him to record major keystones of the repertoire, including his first recordings of the Beethoven Sonatas, Brahms Violin Concerto (conducted by Riccardo Chailly) and complete solo Bach.”

Leonidas Kavakos commented: “Decca, with its many historical recordings, great sound and legendary roster of artists, was always a significant influence in my youth. Now with this exciting collaboration, I very much look forward to recording repertoire that has been a cornerstone of my existence and development over many years. I am very excited to be joining the wonderful Decca team and to be serving the music in our future together.”

Kavakos already has a distinguished discography with a number of award-winning recordings – his Mendelssohn Violin Concerto disc receiving an ECHO Klassik award for 'Best Concerto Recording' 2009. He has also recorded, live, Mozart’s five violin concerti and Symphony No.39 with the Camerata Salzburg, which featured in Der Spiegel’s selection of the 30 best classical recordings ever. In 1991, shortly after winning the Sibelius Competition, Kavakos won a Gramophone Award for the first ever recording of the original version of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto (1903/4). In addition, he has released recordings of sonatas by Enescu and Ravel together with pianist Péter Nagy, and a recording of works by Bach and Stravinsky.

Leonidas Kavakos performs Beethoven violin sonatas with Emanuel at Wigmore Hall Ax tomorrow, as part of their cycle at the London venue. He then performs Korngold's Violin Concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel at the Philharmonie in Berlin, 26 to28 April. The final performance will be broadcast live online by the Digital Concert Hall (8pm Berlin time). Click here to watch the performance.

Watch a part of the rehearsal here

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