On Wednesday, 28 August, Cankarjev Dom’s Gallus Hall will host a magnificent symphonic concert as part of the 72nd Ljubljana Festival (concert starts at 8.00 pm). The famous London Symphony Orchestra will perform under the direction of renowned conductor Sir Antonio Pappano. Joining the orchestra as soloist for the first part of the concert will be the Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang, one of the leading musicians of her generation.
Vilde Frang is recognised worldwide for her exquisite sound and virtuosity. She made her debut as a soloist with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 12 and between 2003 and 2009 was the holder of a scholarship from the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation. She studied with Kolja Blacher at the University of Music and Theatre in Hamburg and with Ana Chumachenco at the Kronberg Academy.
Her career really took off after 2012, when she won the Credit Suisse Young Artist Award. This led to her debut with the Vienna Philharmonic under Bernard Haitink at the Lucerne Festival. Since then she has appeared regularly with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors. In Ljubljana, she will perform Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto in B minor.
The Norwegian violinist’s easy virtuosity, profound musicianship and exceptional lyricism have elevated her above her peers. Vilde Frang is an exclusive Warner Classics artist and her recordings have won numerous awards, including a Classic BRIT Award, an Edison Klassiek Award, an Echo Klassik Award, Gramophone magazine’s Concerto Recording of the Year (for her recording of the Korngold and Britain violin concertos), a Diapason d’Or, a Grand Prix du Disque and a Deutscher Schallplattenpreis.
She performs on the “Rode” Guarneri del Gesù from 1734, a violin with an illustrious history, having been played in the past by celebrated virtuosi such as Pierre Rode, Norbert Brainin, and Kyung Wha Chung. The loan was facilitated by Steven Smith, managing director of J & A Beare and Stephan Jansen, co-founder of the Stretton Society, a private philanthropic club that supports classical music and musicians through various stringed instruments and platforms.
Frang says of her violin: “Words cannot describe what a milestone the discovery of the ‘Rode’ Guarneri has been for me. Having had the privilege to explore an incredible selection of instruments recommended by J & A Beare in search of the right instrument, the ‘Rode’ happens to be the violin of my dreams. Thanks to them, and to the incredible generosity of the Stretton Society who have secured the long-term loan, I feel truly blessed that I am able to keep on playing on it! My joy and gratitude are expanding every day.”
Her engagements during the 2024–25 season include a return to the concert stage with the Berlin Philharmonic under Kirill Petrenko. She will also be embarking on international tours with the Munich Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Basel Chamber Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra. It is with the last of these orchestras that she will be appearing in Ljubljana in a few days’ time.
