Antoine Tamestit

Biography

Antoine Tamestit stands as a singular voice in the world of classical music, redefining what it means to be a viola player in the 21st century. He has captivated audiences and critics alike, bringing a fresh perspective to beloved masterpieces and contemporary works alike. His unique artistry, marked by an unparalleled sensitivity and a profound connection to his instrument, places him among the most distinguished musicians of our time.

In the course of the 2025/26 season, Antoine Tamestit returns to London Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Further highlights include his debut with Filarmonica della Scala and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Finnish premiere of John Williams’s Viola Concerto with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.

In recent seasons, he has performed with orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra... He performs regularly with leading conductors including Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Daniel Harding, Paavo Järvi, Klaus Mäkelä, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Sir Antonio Pappano, Kirill Petrenko, Sir Simon Rattle, François-Xavier Roth, Christian Thielemann, and Jaap van Zweden. During the 2024/25 season, Antoine Tamestit was artist-in-residence with Radio-France, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León.

Antoine Tamestit has premiered major contemporary works, including Jörg Widmann’s Viola Concerto; Thierry Escaich’s “La Nuit des chants;” Bruno Mantovani’s Concerto for Two Violas, featuring Tabea Zimmermann; Gérard Tamestit’s “Sakura;” Olga Neuwirth’s “Remnants of Songs” and “Weariness heals wounds;” Marko Nikodijević’s “Psalmodija” with the SWR Symphonieorchester; and Francesco Filidei’s Viola Concerto with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

A passionate chamber musician, he performs regularly with Emanuel Ax, Martin Fröst, Leonidas Kavakos, Yo-Yo Ma, Emmanuel Pahud, Yuja Wang, Shai Wosner, and the Quatuor Ébène. He is also a founding member of Trio Zimmermann with Frank Peter Zimmermann and Christian Poltera: the string trio is appearing at the finest venues in Europe for over ten years.

His discography with harmonia mundi embraces a dozen releases, ranging from Telemann and Bach to Jörg Widmann, as well as the major German Romantic (Schumann, Brahms) and French (Fauré, Debussy) repertoire...