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Mission is possible: Nikolaj Znaider performs both as violinist and conductor on December 21-23

Znaider will present Beethoven's Violin Concerto and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5.

“You have to be able to enthrall and persuade at the same time,” said acclaimed Italian Conductor and Chicago Symphony Orchestra Music Director Riccardo Muti. These words of one of the most respected and charismatic conductors of our time can be applied to Nikolaj Znaider, world-renowned violinist who is also building a successful career as conductor. Performing the dual role of conductor and violinist is difficult, but possible. Znaider is going to prove it during three concerts that will take place December 21-23 at Symphony Center in Chicago performing a great pairing – Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5. As a violinist, he will enthrall, and as a conductor, he will persuade.

It will be his subscription debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a conductor. Znaider has previously performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a violin soloist many times. Born in Copenhagen to Polish-Jewish parents in 1975, he studied the violin at the Royal Danish Conservatoire. He later continued his studies at the Juilliard School and also took lessons from the eminent Russian pedagogue Boris Kuschnir in Vienna.

As a serious musician with an analytical approach to playing his instrument, Znaider got recognition early in his life. At the age of 16 he won the first prize of the Fourth International Carl Nielsen Music Competition, and in 1997 he was a winner of one of the most respected musical contests in the world: the International Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels. His extraordinary talent, incomparable playing technique and unbelievable touching approach to his instrument have gained him worldwide fame and a remarkable reputation that have led to performances with major orchestras around the globe.

Being an all-round musician, Znaider felt that he could use his mastership in different ways, and at some point in his life he started to conduct. “I conduct for the reason I play the violin, because I love music,” Znaider said. “My path happened to be that I started playing the violin and I ended up taking it to a high level maybe, but quite early on, I realized that I wanted to conduct. It was a matter of finding the chance, the time and the opportunity to start.”

He founded the annual Nordic Music Academy summer school in 1998 and served there as artistic director for ten years. Having long and successful relationships with the Mariinsky Theatre as a violinist, he was also recognized as a talented conductor and was invited to serve as Principal Guest Conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre in 2010. Since then, Znaider has been performing this role brilliantly.

Znaider takes his conducting role seriously and expands his horizons by conducting with different orchestras around the world. This time, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is honored to welcome Znaider back and is looking forward to impress its audiences with the new bright colors of the all-round talent of this incredible musician and persona. What approach Znaider will use to perform his dual role of violinist and conductor? Chicago will find out soon.

Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 are considered to be the two most frequently performed works in the orchestral repertoire. However, it is difficult to find two more contrasting compositions, which makes this match even more attractive. Besides considering these differences, Znaider will have to consider the differences in approaching his two roles as well. Even rehearsing is not the same for the conductor and for the soloist. “As an instrumentalist you are almost learning music from the details outwards, but as a conductor you are learning it from the structure, then adding in the details later on,” said Znaider once. He learned about conducting from Daniel Barenboim, an Argentine-Israeli pianist and conductor.

Znaider’s concerts in Chicago that will take place on December 21-23 are predicted to be a success. With his rich cultural and ethnic background, all-round education and experience, deep and analytical approach to music, and extraordinary musical skills and talents, Znaider will make Symphony Center shine and will demonstrate a qualitative new level on which orchestra and soloist can perform. He will prove – the mission of the dual role of conductor and soloist is possible. After all, the whole music-making process exists not just for demonstrating skills and techniques. As Riccardo Muti said, “Music does not know the difference between people; it only speaks to their hearts. It is the only form of communication that can bring this terrible world together.” Thus, Znaider will come to the stage – to bring this world together.

Natalia Dagenhart

Photo: Courtesy of Lars Gundersen

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