Viktoria Mullova

Viktoria Mullova studied at the Central Music School of Moscow and the Moscow Conservatoire. Her extraordinary talent captured international attention when she won first prize at the 1980 Sibelius Competition in Helsinki and the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1982 which was followed, in 1983, by her dramatic and much-publicized defection to the West. She has since appeared with most of the world’s greatest orchestras and conductors, as well as at the major international festivals. She is now known the world over as a violinist of exceptional versatility and musical integrity. Her curiosity spans the breadth of musical development from Baroque and Classical right up to the most contemporary influences from the world of fusion and experimental music.Mullova Plays Bach program on January 28 and 29 marks her debut with Music of the Baroque.

The 22-23 season includes a tour of Japan in recital and concerto performances, a European tour with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and performances with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. Viktoria Mullova continues her duo partnership "Music we Love" with Misha Mullov-Abbado, double bass, featuring his original compositions, arrangements of Brazilian and Hebrew songs, and works by Schumann and Bach. Viktoria also continues her collaboration with Alasdair Beatson playing Beethoven and Schubert on gut strings and fortepiano. During their three year collaboration, they have released their first recording of Beethoven sonatas, recorded and released during the pandemic lockdowns; a second album featuring Beethoven and Schubert appeared in April 2022 a further recording of Beethoven sonatas will follow.

Viktoria Mullova's interest in the authentic approach has led to collaborations with period instrument bands such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Il Giardino Armonico, Venice Baroque, and Orchestre Révolutionaire et Romantique. Viktoria Mullova's great affinity with Bach and his work makes up a large part of her recording catalogue. Her interpretations of Bach have been acclaimed worldwide and led Tim Ashley to write, “To hear Mullova play Bach is, simply, one of the greatest things you can experience…” in The Guardian. Her recent disc of Bach concerti with the Accademia Bizantina and Ottavio Dantone has been highly praised and her recording of Bach’s solo sonatas and partitas represents a significant milestone in her personal journey into this music.

Viktoria Mullova’s extensive discography has attracted many prestigious awards. Her recording of Vivaldi concertos with Il Giardino Armonico and directed by Giovanni Antonini won the Diapason D’Or of the Year award for 2005, and her recording featuring Beethoven’s op.12, no.3 and Kreutzer Sonatas with Kristian Bezuidenhout won immense critical acclaim. Other discs include the Schubert Octet with the Mullova Ensemble, “Recital” with Katia Labèque, Bach Sonatas with Ottavio Dantone, “6 Solo Sonatas and Partitas” by J. S. Bach, and the complete works for violin & orchestra by Arvo Pärt with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and Paavo Järvi.