Biography

Leonidas Kavakos has developed close relationships with major orchestras including the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. He also works closely with the Dresden Staatskapelle, Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, and Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala. In recent years, Mr. Kavakos has also succeeded in building a strong profile as a conductor, leading the New York Philharmonic and Vienna Symphony, among other ensembles. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut with a March 1994 recital and made his orchestral debut in April 2005.

Recently Mr. Kavakos was honored as artist in residence at Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España, where he appeared as both violinist and conductor. Last season he also toured Europe with Yuja Wang, returned to the United States with regular recital partners Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma, and performed a number of concerts throughout Europe and the Middle East with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Mr. Kavakos is an exclusive recording artist with Sony Classics. Recent releases include the Beethoven Violin Concerto, which he conducted and played with the Bavarian Radio Symphony, and two albums of Beethoven symphonies arranged for piano trio with Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma.

Born and brought up in a musical family in Athens, Mr. Kavakos curates an annual violin and chamber-music masterclass in his hometown, attracting violinists and ensembles from all over the world. He plays the “Willemotte” Stradivarius violin of 1734.

September 2023