Violinist Christian Li continues his 2023/24 season performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto for three much-anticipated European debuts. Li, of whom Limelight writes, “is undoubtedly one of the talents of his generation,” noting his “astonishing technical control and virtuosic flair” will perform with RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and conductor Rossen Milanov on 3 October. He then joins Denmark’s Aalborg Symphony Orchestra and conductor Fredrik Burstedt for concerts at the Gymnasiets Festsal in Hjørring (11 October) and at Aalborg’s Musikkens Hus (12 October). The following week, Christian makes his UK orchestral debut with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Conductor Laureate Vasily Petrenko on 19 October.
Born in Melbourne in 2007, Christian Li first picked up a violin aged five. He captured international attention in 2018 when he became the youngest-ever winner of the Menuhin Competition, winning the joint Junior 1st Prize in Geneva where he play-conducted a movement of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Performing with the Geneva Chamber Orchestra, he also received the Audience Prize and the Composer Award.
Soon after, in 2020, Christian became the youngest artist to sign with Decca Classics. His debut album featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons accompanied by works for violin and piano by Bazzini, Kreisler, Massenet and Li Zilli was released in August 2021 gathering five-star reviews. BBC Music Magazine wrote: “He brings thrilling virtuosity and myriad colours to Vivaldi’s fast movements and an exquisitely silky cantabile sound to the aria-like slow movements”.
Currently Christian is the Young Artist in Association with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for a period of three years during which he performs a range of concertos, chamber music and recitals. His additional 2023/24 highlights include his returns to the Melbourne Symphony and Oslo Philharmonic (play/direct) and further debut with the Macao Orchestra; and recitals in Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Vancouver, Canada.
Christian performs on the 1737 ex-Paulsen Guarneri del Gesù violin, on loan from a generous benefactor and uses a bow by François Peccatte. He currently studies with Dr. Robin Wilson at the Yehudi Menuhin School in London and enjoys reading, swimming and bike riding in his free time.
Photo: Albert Comper
