Gidon Kremer And Kremerata Baltica Join Columbia Artists

Today, Columbia Artists announced that Gidon Kremer, the world-renowned violinist and founder of his eponymous chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica, will join its roster. Columbia Artists will represent Kremer and Kremerata Baltica as General Management in North America, Asia, Australia and the United Kingdom.

"I am delighted to join Columbia Artists together with Kremerata Baltica, and work with Doug Sheldon and his team," said Gidon Kremer. "In the spirit of Oscar Wilde's aphorism , 'I have a very simple taste: I like only the best , ' we will join creative forces to continue my search for music in this contemporary music world. Doug and I share a vision for supporting and further developing Kremerata Baltica's always innovative projects and I look forward to our collaboration immensely."

Doug Sheldon of Columbia Artists said: "I am most pleased for the opportunity to work with Gidon, surely one of the world's most respected, admired and forward-thinking artists, and thrilled for the chance to develop imaginative programs for Kremerata Baltica in several international territories."

A winner of the 2016 Praemium Imperiale music prize, considered one of the world's most prestigious arts prizes, violinist Gidon Kremer has built a worldwide reputation as one of the art form's most original and compelling artists. In the five decades of his career, Kremer has appeared in the world's major concert halls as a recitalist and with nearly every major North American and European orchestra under the batons of the 20th and 21st century's greatest conductors. A champion of new music, especially works by Russian and Eastern European composers, Kremer has presented the world premieres of pieces by Alfred Schnittke, Arvo Pärt, Giya Kancheli, Sofia Gubaidulina, Valentin Silvestrov, Luigi Nono, Edison Denisov, Aribert Reimann, P?teris Vasks, Georgs Pelecis, Kaija Saariaho, John Adams, Victor Kissine, Michael Nyman, Philip Glass, Leonid Desyatnikov and Astor Piazzolla, and frequently programs their music on his recitals.

In 1997, Kremer founded the chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica to support outstanding young musicians from the Baltic States (Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania). The ensemble tours extensively and has recorded almost 30 albums. In 2016/2017 Kremerata Baltica celebrated its 20th anniversary with a landmark tour throughout the Middle East, North America, Europe, and Asia.

In the 2018/2019, Kremer joins the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra as its Artist in Residence. Throughout the season, Kremer will focus his solo recital tour on the music of Mieczys?aw Weinberg, and will again lead Kremerata Baltica on tour. Many long-time collaborators of Gidon Kremer - such as Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla, Andras Schiff, and Martha Argerich - will join him in celebrating the genius of Mr. Weinberg.