Virtuoso Violinists
Violinist↕ | Country↕ | Years↕ | Signature Violin↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jascha Heifetz | Lithuania/United States | 1901-1987 | Ex-David Guarneri del Gesu 1742 | Widely considered greatest violinist of 20th century, icy perfection, blazing technique |
| Itzhak Perlman | Israel/United States | 1945- | Soil Stradivarius 1714 | Plays seated due to polio, Schindler's List soundtrack, warm tone, beloved personality |
| Hilary Hahn | United States | 1979- | Vuillaume 1865 (copy of Cannon Guarneri) | Flawless technique, commissioned 27 encores project, three Grammys, educator |
| Anne-Sophie Mutter | Germany | 1963- | Lord Dunn-Raven Stradivarius 1710 | Karajan discovery at 13, Penderecki and Williams premieres, foundation for young players |
| David Oistrakh | Soviet Union | 1908-1974 | Marsick Stradivarius 1705 | Soviet violin school pillar, Shostakovich concerto dedicatee, warm Russian tone |
| Yehudi Menuhin | United States/United Kingdom | 1916-1999 | Lord Wilton Guarneri del Gesu 1742 | Child prodigy at 7, played for liberated concentration camps, founded Menuhin School |
| Fritz Kreisler | Austria | 1875-1962 | Hart Guarneri del Gesu 1737 | Trademark vibrato, composed pieces passed off as classical masters' works, romantic style |
| Niccolo Paganini | Italy | 1782-1840 | Il Cannone Guarneri 1743 | 19th-century superstar, devil rumors, 24 Caprices, founded virtuoso violin tradition |
| Isaac Stern | Ukraine/United States | 1920-2001 | Ysaye Guarneri del Gesu 1740 | Saved Carnegie Hall from demolition, From Mao to Mozart documentary, mentor to many |
| Nathan Milstein | Ukraine/United States | 1903-1992 | Ex-Goldman Stradivarius 1716 | Aristocrat of the violin, Bach solo sonatas benchmark, played into his 80s |
| Gidon Kremer | Latvia | 1947- | Nicola Amati 1641 | Founded Kremerata Baltica, champion of Schnittke and Part, intellectual adventurer |
| Maxim Vengerov | Russia | 1974- | Ex-Kreutzer Stradivarius 1727 | Prodigy turned teacher, shoulder injury comeback, Royal Academy professor |
| Janine Jansen | Netherlands | 1978- | Shumsky-Rode Stradivarius 1715 | Dutch star, chamber music devotee, International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht |
| Joshua Bell | United States | 1967- | Gibson ex-Huberman Stradivarius 1713 | Red Violin soundtrack, DC subway experiment, Academy of St Martin music director |
| Midori Goto | Japan/United States | 1971- | Ex-Huberman Guarneri del Gesu 1734 | Debut with NY Phil at 11, Tanglewood broken-string legend, Curtis faculty |
| Viktoria Mullova | Russia/United Kingdom | 1959- | Jules Falk Stradivarius 1723 | Cold War defection via Finland, classical and historically informed crossover |
| Leonidas Kavakos | Greece | 1967- | Willemotte Stradivarius 1734 | Sibelius Competition winner at 18, rich tone, Beethoven sonata cycles with Wang |
| Arthur Grumiaux | Belgium | 1921-1986 | Titian Stradivarius 1715 | French-Belgian school refinement, Mozart and Beethoven sonata benchmark recordings |
| Ivry Gitlis | Israel | 1922-2020 | Sancy Stradivarius 1713 | Free-spirited maverick, Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, played until 97 |
| Anne Akiko Meyers | United States | 1970- | Vieuxtemps Guarneri del Gesu 1741 | Owns the most expensive violin ever sold, commissions new concertos, chart-topping albums |
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