Antoine Tamestit < Baroniet Rosendal

Antoine Tamestit

Biography

Violist Antoine Tamestit is internationally recognized as a leading soloist, recitalist and chamber musician beloved for his unsurpassed technique and the much-vaunted beauty of his richly coloured tone. His broad repertoire ranges from Baroque to the present, and his strong commitment to contemporary music is reflected in numerous premieres of new works.

In 2324 season Antoine continues to engage on a truly international level, from European tour with Staatskapelle Dresden to debuts with Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, artist-in-residence at the South Korean Tongyeong International Music Festival as well as premiere of Joe Hisaishi’s Viola Saga in Asia.

In recent seasons, Antoine has performed with orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and Mahler Chamber Orchestra among many others. He performs regularly with major conductors including Teodor Currentzis, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Daniel Harding, Paavo Järvi, Klaus Mäkelä, Sir Antonio Pappano, Kirill Petrenko, Sir Simon Rattle, Francois-Xavier Roth, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Christian Thielemann, and Jaap van Zweden.

Among the most important pieces premiered by Antoine Tamestit are Jörg Widmann’s Viola Concerto, Thierry Escaich’s La Nuit des Chants, Bruno Mantovani’s Concerto for Two Violas with Tabea Zimmermann, as well as Gérard Tamestit’s Sakura and Olga Neuwirth’s Remnants of Songs and Weariness Heals Wounds. In 23/24 season, he will be premiering two new works written for him: Nikodijevich’s Psalmodija with the SWR Symphony Orchestra and Filidei’s Viola Concerto with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

As a passionate chamber musician, Antoine performs regularly with Emmanuel Ax, Isabelle Faust, Martin Fröst, Leonidas Kavakos, Yo-Yo Ma, Emmanuel Pahud, Francesco Piemontesi, Cédric Tiberghien, Yuja Wang, Jörg Widmann, Shai Wosner, and the Ébène Quartet.

He was also a founding member of Trio Zimmermann with Frank Peter Zimmermann and Christian Poltera performing in Europe’s most famous concert halls for more than 10 years. Together they recorded a number of acclaimed CDs for BIS Records, including their own arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations.

An ardent educator, Antoine Tamestit served for 10 years as programming director of the Viola Space Festival in Japan where he focused on expanding the viola repertoire and developing a wide range of educational programs. He was also a professor at the Musikhochschule in Cologne, the Paris Conservatoire, and now teaches in masterclasses at the Kronberg Academy and around the world.

Antoine’s acclaimed discography can be found on many labels, and his recent releases with Harmonia Mundi include Johannes Brahms’ Sonatas for Viola and Piano with Cédric Tiberghien and a Telemann album with the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. His 2018 recording of Widmann Concerto with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Daniel Harding won the Premier Award at the BBC Music Magazine Awards in 2019.

Born in Paris, Tamestit studied with Jean Sulem, Jesse Levine, and with Tabea Zimmermann. He was the recipient of several coveted prizes including first prize at the William Primrose Competition in 2001, and the ARD International Music Competition in 2004 as well as being awarded the Credit Suisse Young Artist Award in 2008. 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.

Festival Performances Year 2024

Thursday 8 August

15.30 4. Concert in The Great Hall.

György Kurtág: Ligatura—Message to Frances‐Marie (the Answered Unanswered Question), Op. 31b
Adrien Jurkovic, Thomas Descamps (violins), Victor Julien-Laferrière, Simon Iachemet (cellos), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Robert Schumann: Fantasiestücke, Op. 73
Wenzel Fuchs (clarinet), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

György Kurtág: Selections from Játékok and Jelek, játékok és üzenetek
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano), Antoine Tamestit (viola)

György Kurtág: Omaggio a Luigi Nono, Op. 16
Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Grete Pedersen (conductor)

Robert Schumann: Gute Nacht, Op. 59 No.
Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Grete Pedersen (conductor)

INTERVAL

Robert Schumann: Piano Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 47
Zlata Chochieva (piano), Vilde Frang (violin), Antoine Tamestit (viola), Victor Julien-Laferrière (cello)

György Kurtág: Hommage à R. Sch., Op. 15d
Wenzel Fuchs (clarinet), Antoine Tamestit (viola), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Thursday 8 August

21.00 5. Concert in Kvinnherad church

Franz Schubert: Gesang der Geister über den Wassern, D.714
Norwegian Soloists' Choir (male voices), Grete Pedersen (conductor), Antoine Tamestit, Raphaël Pagnon (violas), Victor Julien-Laferrière, Simon Iachemet (cellos), Christian Henriksen (double bass)

Béla Bartók: String Quartet No. 6 in D minor, Sz. 114
Quatuor Agate

INTERVAL

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Clarinet Quintet, K. 581
Wenzel Fuchs (clarinet), Quatuor Agate

Friday 9 August

21.00 10. Concert in Kvinnherad church

Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord No. 1 in G major, BWV 1027
Antoine Tamestit (viola), Masato Suzuki (harpsichord)

Johann Sebastian Bach: Selection of Canons from Das Musikalische Opfer, BWV 1079
Masato Suzuki (harpsichord), baroque ensemble

Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord No. 3 in G minor, BWV 1029
Antoine Tamestit (viola), Masato Suzuki (harpsichord)

INTERVAL

Johann Sebastian Bach: Selection of Canons from 14 Canons, BWV 1087
Masato Suzuki (harpsichord), baroque ensemble

Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord No. 2 in D major, BWV 1028
Antoine Tamestit (viola), Masato Suzuki (harpsichord)

Saturday 10 August

16.00-16.45 13. Concert in The Red Room

Franz Liszt: Consolations No. 2, 3, & 6
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Franz Liszt: Elegy No.1, S.130b
Victor Julien-Laferrière (cello), Zlata Chochieva (piano)

Franz Liszt: Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth (Elegie), S.382
Florian Donderer (violin), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Franz Liszt: Romance oubliée, S.132
Antoine Tamestit (viola), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Johann Sebastian Bach / Franz Liszt: Fantasy and Fugue, S.463
Zlata Chochieva (piano)

Saturday 10 August

17.15-18.00 14. Concert in The Red Room

Franz Liszt: Consolations No. 2, 3, & 6
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Franz Liszt: Elegy No.1, S.130b
Victor Julien-Laferrière (cello), Zlata Chochieva (piano)

Franz Liszt: Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth (Elegie), S.382
Florian Donderer (violin), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Franz Liszt: Romance oubliée, S.132
Antoine Tamestit (viola), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Johann Sebastian Bach / Franz Liszt: Fantasy and Fugue, S.463
Zlata Chochieva (piano)

Saturday 10 August

18.30-19.15 15. Concert in The Red Room

Franz Liszt: Consolations No. 2, 3, & 6
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Franz Liszt: Elegy No.1, S.130b
Victor Julien-Laferrière (cello), Zlata Chochieva (piano)

Franz Liszt: Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth (Elegie), S.382
Florian Donderer (violin), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Franz Liszt: Romance oubliée, S.132
Antoine Tamestit (viola), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Johann Sebastian Bach / Franz Liszt: Fantasy and Fugue, S.463
Zlata Chochieva (piano)

Sunday 11 August

13.30 18. Closing concert in The Great Hall 2024

György Kurtág: From Játékok: Aus der Ferne
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Jon Fosse: Er det ei meining over desse tinga. Utdrag.
Arnhild Litleré

J. S. Bach/Kurtág: Chorale Prelude: Aus tiefer not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 687
Zlata Chochieva (piano), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)

Refaat Alareer: Om eg må døy
Arnhild Litleré

J. S. Bach: From Partita No.2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Sarabande
Florian Donderer (violin)

Paul Celan/Olav H. Hauge: Dødsfuge
Arnhild Litleré

László Weiner: Adagio from Serenade for String Trio
Florian Donderer (violin), Antoine Tamestit (viola), Victor Julien-Laferrière (cello)

Åse Marie Næsse: Men du syng
Arnhild Litleré

J. S. Bach/Bartók: Lento from Trio sonata in G major, BWV 530
Zlata Chochieva (piano)

J. S. Bach/Rachmaninov: Prelude from Partita for Solo Violin in E Major BWV 1006
Zlata Chochieva (piano)

Brynjulf Jung Tjønn: Fred
Arnhild Litleré

Ruth Wilhelmine Meyer: Trinity
Ruth Wilhelmine Meyer (voice), Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Grete Pedersen (conductor)

INTERVAL

Arnljot Eidslott: Stabat Mater
Arnhild Litleré

Franz Liszt: Via Crucis, S.53
Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Grete Pedersen (conductor), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano) - Einleitung. Vexilla Regis ("O Crux, Ave!") - Station I. Jesus wird zum Tode verdammt - Station II. Jesus trägt sein Kreuz - Station III. Jesus fällt zum ersten Mal - Station IV. Jesus begegnet seiner heiligen Mutter - Station V. Simon von Kyrene hilft Jesus das Kreuz tragen - Station VI. Sancta Veronica ("O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden") - Station VII. Jesus fällt zum zweiten Mal - Station VIII. Die Frauen von Jerusalem ("Nolite flere super me, sed super vos ipos et super filios vestros") - Station IX. Jesus fällt zum dritten Mal - Station X. Jesus wird entkleidet - Station XI. Jesus wird ans Kreuz gsechlagen ("Crucifige") - Station XII. Jesus stirbt am Kreuze ("Eli, Eli, lamma Sabacthani") - Station XIII. Jesus wird kom Kreuz genommen - Station XIV. Jesus wird ins Grab gelegt ("Ave Crux, spes unica") Soloists: Pilatus: Olle Holmgren Jesus: Øystein Stensheim Mari Askvik, contralto

Rosendal Chamber Music Festival 2024