Viktoria Mullova studied at the Central Music School of Moscow and the Moscow Conservatoire. Her extraordinary talent captured international attention when she won first prize at the 1980 Sibelius Competition in Helsinki and the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1982. She has since appeared with most of the world’s greatest orchestras and conductors and at the major international festivals. She is known the world over as a violinist of exceptional versatility and musical integrity. Her curiosity spans the breadth of musical development from baroque and classical right up to the most contemporary influences from the world of fusion and experimental music.

 Her interest in the authentic approach has led to collaborations with period instrument bands such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Il Giardino Armonico and Orchestre Révolutionaire et Romantique. Viktoria has a great affinity with Bach and his work makes up a large part of her recording catalogue. Her interpretations of Bach have been acclaimed worldwide and led Tim Ashley in the Guardian to write, “To hear Mullova play Bach is, simply, one of the greatest things you can experience…”.

 Her ventures into creative contemporary music started in 2000 with her album “Through the Looking Glass” in which she played world, jazz and pop music arranged for her by Matthew Barley. This exploration continued with her second album ‘The Peasant Girl’ and was followed by “Stradivarius in Rio” , inspired by her love of Brazilian songs. She has also commissioned works from composers such as Fraser Trainer, Thomas Larcher and Dai Fujikura. In 2017, Pascal Dusapin wrote his concerto for violin and cello, At Swim-Two-Birds for Viktoria Mullova and Matthew Barley. Current projects include “Music We Love”; a duo partnership her son, bass player Misha Mullov-Abbado, featuring his original compositions, arrangements of Hebrew and Brazilian songs, jazz arrangements and works by Schumann and Bach.

Viktoria continues her collaboration with Alasdair Beatson playing Beethoven and Schubert on gut strings and fortepiano. During their three year collaboration they have released their first recording of Beethoven sonatas, recorded and released during the pandemic lockdowns; a second album featuring Beethoven and Schubert appeared in April 2022 and a further recording of Beethoven sonatas will follow. 
The 22-23 season includes a tour of Japan in recital and concerto performances, a European tour with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and performances with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra.

Mullova’s extensive discography has attracted many prestigious awards. Recent releases include “Music We Love” with Misha Mullov-Abbado, and Beethoven and Schubert with Alsadair Beatson.
Viktoria either plays on her ‘Jules Falk’ 1723 Stradivarius or a Guadagnini violin from 1750.

This biography should not be edited without permission from Askonas Holt.