The Swiss violinist, Anaïs Chen, studied the modern violin in Zürich and Detmold before turning to the Baroque violin, gaining Master’s degrees with distinction at the Universität der Künste Berlin (2007) and at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (2010). In 2007, she won First Prize at the International Chambermusic Competition for Ancient Music Genova Nervi, 2008 she obtained the one year scholarship prize of the Dienemann-Stiftung Lucerne, in 2009 she received the “Aumann-Preis für innovative Interpretation und Neuentdeckungen” on the occasion of the International Biber-Competition St. Florian. Her duo formation L’Istante was elected “2010 promising young ensemble” during the International Young Artist’s Presentation in Antwerp, in 2011 she was awarded the Second Prize on the occasion of the Telemann Competition Magdeburg and with her Ensemble Daimonion she won First Prize and Special Prize at the International Competition Premio Bonporti Rovereto.
Anaïs Chen performs as a soloist, concert master, chamber musician and co-leader of the Ensemble Daimonion and Duo L’Istante in important venues collaborating with ensembles such as La Nuova Musica London (Director: David Bates), Il Giardino Armonico (Director: Giovanni Antonini), Il Profondo, Freitagsakademie Bern, Gli Angeli Genève (Director: Stephan MacLeod), Il Gusto Barocco (Director: Jörg Halubek), La Fenice (Director: Jean Tubéry), Kesselberg Ensemble, La Cetra Barockorchester Basel (Director: Andrea Marcon), La Pifarescha, Berlin Baroque, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Orchester der J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen (Director: Rudolf Lutz).
Her recordings are receiving enthusiastic reviews and her most recent recording of violin sonatas by François Francoeur received a Diapason d’Or.
From 2010-2012 Anaïs Chen was teaching Baroque Violin at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe.
Anaïs Chen particularly enjoys presenting Early Music in contemporary contexts, as can be seen in her projects EntreTemps or Passagen, performances joining baroque music to contemporary dance on stage. |
Sources:
Anaïs Chen Website & Facebook profile
Photo 01: Martin Chiang 2016; Photo 02, 09, 15-17: Michal Novak 2015; Photo 03, 12: Susanna Drescher 2012; Photo 04: Marco Molteni 2016; Photo 08, 18, 19: Donna Verheijden 2014-2015; Photo 11: Leandro Suarez 2008; Photo 21: Jana Jocif 2016
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2019) |