Julian Rachlin, a Lithuanian-born virtuoso violinist, violist, and conductor, was born on December 8, 1974, in Vilnius, Lithuania, to a Jewish family. In 1978, at the tender age of four, he emigrated with his musician parents to Austria, where he would spend the next several years developing his musical talents.
Rachlin's early musical education began at the Konservatorium Wien, where he studied violin in the Soviet tradition under the guidance of Boris Kuschnir. He also received private lessons from the renowned violinist Pinchas Zukerman. This rigorous training laid the foundation for his future success as a child prodigy.
In 1984, Rachlin made his debut as a public performer, and his talent did not go unnoticed. He went on to win the prestigious Eurovision Young Musician of the Year title in 1988, which led to a series of high-profile performances and collaborations with some of the world's most renowned conductors and musicians.
Rachlin's career has been marked by numerous highlights, including his appearance at the Berlin Festival with Lorin Maazel and his debut with the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of Riccardo Muti. He has also performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, and has collaborated with a wide range of artists, from Krzysztof Penderecki to Yuri Bashmet.
In addition to his work as a soloist, Rachlin is also a dedicated chamber musician and has founded his own music festival, "Julian Rachlin and Friends," in Dubrovnik. He has also been a long-time advocate for the viola, and has performed the concerto and chamber repertoire for the instrument since 2000.
Rachlin's many accolades include the International Prize of the Accademia Musicale Chigiana of Siena, which he received in 2000. He has also been appointed as principal guest conductor of the Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, and has been named chief conductor of the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.
Throughout his career, Rachlin has been supported by his trusty "ex Liebig" Stradivarius violin, which is loaned to him by the Dkfm. Angelika Prokopp Privatstiftung.
