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The Serbian violinist, Gordan Nikolitch, began playing the violin when he was 7. In 1985 he entered the Musikhochschule Basel and started to study with the famous violinist and conductor Jean-Jacques Kantorow, obtaining his teaching diploma in 1987 and his diploma in solo violin studies in 1990, both with the highest distinction. During this period he cultivated his interest in Baroque and contemporary music, and worked closely with the composers W. Levin,, Witold Lutoslawski and György Kurtág. As a violinist, he participated and was awarded in many competitional occasions, The Tibor Varga competition, Niccolo Paganini competition at Genoa, Italy, Città di Brescia and Hummel competition in Zagreb.
In 1989 (or 1990) he was appointed solo violin (Leader) and Artistic Director of the Orchestre d’Auvergne and appeared frequently with this orchestra as a soloist and as a conductor, including a tour of Germany in 1993. In 1997, he was also appointed first violin (concertmaster) of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, relinquishing this post in 1998 to become first violin (Leader) of the London Symphony Orchestra. In 1999 he also became Leader of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. In 2004-2005 season he was also appointed Artistic Director of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, a collaboration that has received outstanding critical acclaim.. He is also Artistic Director of St. George Strings from Belgrade. Since 2006 he has been Principal Guest Director of the Manchester Camerata.
Gordan Nikolitch is an internationally renowned and truly awe inspiring violinist, drawing both musicians and audiences alike to his hypnotic performances. His infectious enthusiasm is reflected not only in the magnificent sound he makes but in his energetically physical performance. He has performed as a soloist with many European orchestras, such as the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, London Symphony Orchestra, Radio Sinfonie-Orchester Basel, Combattimento Consort Amsterdam, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, etc, and musicians, such as André Previn, Bernard Haitink, Maria-João Pires, Mikhail Pletnev or Emanuel Ax. In February 2005 he performed as soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican in the Johannes Brahms Violin Concerto. He is also a distinguished chamber musician, having appeared with many renowned ensembles, such as the Razumovsky Ensemble, and with his own trio.
Since 2001, Gordan Nikolitch has been Prince Consort Professor at the Royal College of Music in
London and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He also accepted a teaching position at the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music, taking over the class of his former teacher Jean-Jacques Kantorow.
Gordan Nikolitch has made a many recordings for different labels (Olympia, Cyrius, Harmonia Mundi, Pentaton and LSO Live labels), especially of violin music which is not well known.
Gordan Nikolitch plays a violin made by Giuseppe Guarneri filius Andreae, and has also played Lorenzo Storioni's violin from 1794. He now plays a violin made by Lorenzo Storioni (Cremone) in 1776. |
