Antoine Tamestit, a close friend of the orchestra for many years, both as soloist and chamber musician, raves: “Whether performing Concertos, chamber music, or symphonic repertoire, what draws me to this orchestra is their rare unity: each musician leads and listens in equal measure, creating a dialogue that combines the intimacy and precision of a string quartet with the expressive breadth of an orchestra.“
Antoine Tamestit stands as a singular voice in the world of classical music, redefining what it means to be a viola player in the 21st century. He has captivated audiences and critics alike, bringing a fresh perspective to both beloved masterpieces and contemporary works. His unique artistry, marked by an unparalleled sensitivity and a profound connection to his instrument, places him among the most distinguished musicians of our time.
BIOGRAPHY
Antoine Tamestit has performed with orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Wiener Symphoniker, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, and NHK Symphony Orchestra among many others. He performs regularly with major conductors including Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Daniel Harding, Paavo Järvi, Klaus Mäkelä, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Sir Antonio Pappano, Kirill Petrenko, Sir Simon Rattle, Francois-Xavier Roth, Christian Thielemann, and Jaap van Zweden.
Antoine Tamestit has premiered major contemporary works by composers such as Jörg Widmann, Thierry Escaich, Bruno Mantovani, Gérard Tamestit, and Olga Neuwirth. Recent premieres include Marko Nikodijević’s Psalmodija with the SWR Symphonieorchester and Francesco Filidei’s Viola Concerto with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. A passionate advocate for new music, Tamestit believes that performing contemporary works is essential to keeping the viola repertoire vibrant and evolving—an artistic responsibility he embraces as both an interpreter and a collaborator.
He was a founding member of Trio Zimmermann with Frank Peter Zimmermann and Christian Poltera, performing in Europe’s most prestigious concert halls for more than 10 years. As a passionate chamber musician, Antoine performs regularly with Emmanuel Ax, Martin Fröst, Leonidas Kavakos, Yo-Yo Ma, Emmanuel Pahud, Yuja Wang, Shai Wosner, and the Quatuor Ébène.
An ardent educator, Antoine Tamestit served for ten years as Programming Director of Viola Space Festival in Japan, where he focused on expanding the viola repertoire and creating diverse educational initiatives. Previously, he held professorships at the Musikhochschule in Cologne and the Paris Conservatoire and currently teaches at the Kronberg Academy.
Antoine Tamestit's acclaimed discography spans a wide range of repertoire, from cornerstone works by Bach, Berlioz, and Hindemith to contemporary concertos and chamber music. His award-winning recordings feature works by Brahms, Schubert, Schoenberg, Telemann and Widmann, capturing both historical depth and modern innovation. Most recently, he recorded Joe Hisaishi’s newly written Viola Saga with Deutsche Grammophon.
Born in Paris, Tamestit studied with Jean Sulem, Jesse Levine, and with Tabea Zimmermann. In 2022, he received the prestigious triennial Hindemith Prize of the City of Hanau in recognition of his contribution to contemporary landscape within classical music.
Antoine Tamestit plays on the very first viola made by Antonio Stradivarius in 1672, generously loaned by the Habisreutinger Foundation.