Biography
„In addition to handling the daunting technical demands with ease, from his first entrance the violinist brought out an essential fantasy quality, […] Tetzlaff consistently conveyed the nostalgia and romantic melancholy that is at the heart of this work.“
Chicago Classical Review, 2024
Violinist Christian Tetzlaff is highly acclaimed for his expressive, insightful and personal interpretations. His individual approach to the score, always searching for the emotional and structural depth of the composition, has built a loyal following over time who often describe his performance as an existential experience. Since his spectacular debuts with the Schönberg violin concerto in 1988 in Berlin, Munich and Cleveland, he has appeared with major orchestras of the highest calibre such as Berlin, Vienna, New York Philharmonics, the Boston and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and many others. He performs an extensive repertoire ranging from Bach’s solo sonatas and partitas to lesser-known concertos by Giovanni Battista Viotti and Joseph Joachim, to contemporary works by György Ligeti, Jörg Widmann and Thomas Ades. In 2023 he took over the artistic direction of the SPANNUNGEN Festival in Heimbach, Germany.
In the 2025/26 season Tetzlaff features as Artist-in-Residence of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and performs concertos by Berg, Suk and Dvořák as well as chamber music with Vladimir Jurowski. In February 2026 he gives the world premiere of Ondrej Adamek’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in Paris, with subsequent national premieres in Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Further highlights of the season include duo recitals with Leif-Ove Andsnes, solo violin recitals in Berlin, Oslo and London, and concerts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Wiener Symphoniker, SWR Symphonieorchester, Helsinki Philharmonic, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
Tetzlaff collaborates with many of today’s leading conductors, including Herbert Blomstedt, Karina Canellakis, Maxim Emelyanychev, Christoph Eschenbach, Daniele Gatti, Daniel Harding, Manfred Honeck, Jakub Hrůša, Marie Jacquot, Paavo Järvi, Vladimir Jurowski, Cristian Măcelaru, Andris Nelsons, Gianandrea Noseda, Sakari Oramo, Sir Antonio Pappano, Kirill Petrenko, Sir Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, John Storgårds, Robin Ticciati, and Juraj Valčuha.
Chamber music has been an integral part of his career. In 1994 he founded the Tetzlaff Quartet with his sister, cellist Tanja Tetzlaff. The ensemble tours each season and performs in 2025/26 in Germany and the United Kingdom. Tetzlaff Quartet was awarded a Diapason d’or l’année in 2015 for their recording of Berg’s Lyric Suite and Mendelssohn. Christian and Tanja Tetzlaff also perform regularly as a trio with pianist Kiveli Dörken.
His extensive discography, primarily on the Ondine label, has received the Jahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, several Diapason d’or awards and the Midem Classical Award. Recent highlights include Sibelius with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Nick Collon, and Brahms piano quartets which were the last recordings of the late Lars Vogt. Elgar and Adès violin concertos with the BBC Philharmonic and John Storgårds are being released in autumn 2025. He has recorded Bach’s solo violin works three times.
Christian Tetzlaff performs on a violin made by Peter Greiner. He teaches at the Kronberg Academy, and lives in Berlin with his wife, photographer Giorgia Bertazzi, and their three children.
SEASON 2025/2026 – WE UPDATE OUR BIOGRAPHIES REGULARLY. PLEASE DO NOT USE PREVIOUSLY DATED MATERIAL
Biography
„In addition to handling the daunting technical demands with ease, from his first entrance the violinist brought out an essential fantasy quality, […] Tetzlaff consistently conveyed the nostalgia and romantic melancholy that is at the heart of this work.“
Chicago Classical Review, 2024
Violinist Christian Tetzlaff is highly acclaimed for his expressive, insightful and personal interpretations. His individual approach to the score, always searching for the emotional and structural depth of the composition, has built a loyal following over time who often describe his performance as an existential experience. Since his spectacular debuts with the Schönberg violin concerto in 1988 in Berlin, Munich and Cleveland, he has appeared with major orchestras of the highest calibre such as Berlin, Vienna, New York Philharmonics, the Boston and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and many others. He performs an extensive repertoire ranging from Bach’s solo sonatas and partitas to lesser-known concertos by Giovanni Battista Viotti and Joseph Joachim, to contemporary works by György Ligeti, Jörg Widmann and Thomas Ades. In 2023 he took over the artistic direction of the SPANNUNGEN Festival in Heimbach, Germany.
In the 2025/26 season Tetzlaff features as Artist-in-Residence of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and performs concertos by Berg, Suk and Dvořák as well as chamber music with Vladimir Jurowski. In February 2026 he gives the world premiere of Ondrej Adamek’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in Paris, with subsequent national premieres in Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Further highlights of the season include duo recitals with Leif-Ove Andsnes, solo violin recitals in Berlin, Oslo and London, and concerts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Wiener Symphoniker, SWR Symphonieorchester, Helsinki Philharmonic, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
Tetzlaff collaborates with many of today’s leading conductors, including Herbert Blomstedt, Karina Canellakis, Maxim Emelyanychev, Christoph Eschenbach, Daniele Gatti, Daniel Harding, Manfred Honeck, Jakub Hrůša, Marie Jacquot, Paavo Järvi, Vladimir Jurowski, Cristian Măcelaru, Andris Nelsons, Gianandrea Noseda, Sakari Oramo, Sir Antonio Pappano, Kirill Petrenko, Sir Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, John Storgårds, Robin Ticciati, and Juraj Valčuha.
Chamber music has been an integral part of his career. In 1994 he founded the Tetzlaff Quartet with his sister, cellist Tanja Tetzlaff. The ensemble tours each season and performs in 2025/26 in Germany and the United Kingdom. Tetzlaff Quartet was awarded a Diapason d’or l’année in 2015 for their recording of Berg’s Lyric Suite and Mendelssohn. Christian and Tanja Tetzlaff also perform regularly as a trio with pianist Kiveli Dörken.
His extensive discography, primarily on the Ondine label, has received the Jahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, several Diapason d’or awards and the Midem Classical Award. Recent highlights include Sibelius with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Nick Collon, and Brahms piano quartets which were the last recordings of the late Lars Vogt. Elgar and Adès violin concertos with the BBC Philharmonic and John Storgårds are being released in autumn 2025. He has recorded Bach’s solo violin works three times.
Christian Tetzlaff performs on a violin made by Peter Greiner. He teaches at the Kronberg Academy, and lives in Berlin with his wife, photographer Giorgia Bertazzi, and their three children.
SEASON 2025/2026 – WE UPDATE OUR BIOGRAPHIES REGULARLY. PLEASE DO NOT USE PREVIOUSLY DATED MATERIAL