The second-place finish at the 1995 International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki launched the career of the 16-year-old Georgian musician. Since that debut, she has secured a reputation as a global soloist and collaborator, moving from her early training in Hamburg to prestigious residencies with the New York Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1979 in Tbilisi, Georgia, she began learning the violin at age four from her father. The family relocated to Germany in 1991, providing the environment for her formal education at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama. Her mentors there included Mark Lubotsky, a former student of David Oistrakh, and Ana Chumachenco.
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An early participant in the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists program, she has performed under prominent conductors including Daniel Barenboim, Simon Rattle, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Her work regularly spans chamber music and orchestral concertos, with recent appearances including the 2018 Nobel Prize concert. She is currently a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.
Repertoire and Contemporary Commissions
She maintains an active focus on both established concertos and new compositions. Magnus Lindberg dedicated a violin concerto to her, which she premiered in 2006 at Avery Fisher Hall. Collaborating with her husband, the oboist François Leleux, she commissioned Broken Chant from Giya Kancheli. Her discography, featuring Sony Classical and Deutsche Grammophon, includes works ranging from Bach to Prokofiev.
Professional Honors and Equipment
Her career is marked by multiple industry recognitions, including the 2003 Leonard Bernstein Award, the 2006 Beethoven Ring, and the 2011 Echo Klassik Instrumentalist of the Year. She was awarded the Kaiser Otto Prize in 2025. In her performances, she utilizes a 1739 Guarneri del Gesu violin provided by a private anonymous collector.
Fast facts
- Born: 1979, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Primary Occupation: Violinist
- Education: Hamburg University of Music and Drama
- Instrument: 1739 Guarneri del Gesu
- Spouse: François Leleux
- Notable Recognition: Echo Klassik Instrumentalist of the Year (2011)
- Residency History: New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic
Questions readers ask
What notable commissions has she spearheaded?
She commissioned the double concerto Broken Chant from Giya Kancheli and the solo piece Requiem for Ukraine from Igor Loboda.
Where did she complete her music education?
She studied at the Hamburg University of Music and Drama under tutors including Mark Lubotsky and Ana Chumachenco.
Achievements
- Accademia Musicale Chigiana International Prize
- Instruments: violin
- Genres: classical music
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