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Matthew Trusler.
violin.
On graduating from Philadelphia's Curtis Institute in 1998, the Times declared of Matthew Trusler that "we might just have an authentic, though British, virtuoso."
Since then Trusler has developed a reputation as one of Britain's leading violinists, performing with many of the world's great orchestras, and receiving huge critical acclaim for his diverse recordings. He has also founded the record label Orchid Classics on which some of the most important artists of today are recording, and the Lenny Trusler Children's Foundation, which raises money for desperately ill babies. Trusler was instrumental in forming the Malmo International String Festival of which he became Artistic Director in 2011.
Performing on a bow once owned by Heifetz, given to him by Herbert Axelrod (who himself received it from Heifetz), Trusler has received particular acclaim for his performances of works from the 20th century, including concertos by Walton, Berg and Britten. His recording of concertos by Korngold and Rozsa with the Dusseldorf Symohony received 5 stars in BBC Music Magazine, and the headline "Hotter than Heifetz?"
Trusler has been invited to perform as a recitalist and concerto soloist throughout Europe, Australia, the USA, Japan and South Africa. In the UK he has performed with major orchestras, including the BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish and BBC Welsh orchestras, the Philharmonia, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, City of Birmingham, Halle and Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and has appeared further afield with the Minnesota Orchestra, NDR Hanover, Helsinki Philharmonic, Deutsche Symphony Berlin, Malaysian Philharmonic and Johannesburg Philharmonic. Some of his personal highlights include tours with the Australian orchestras (including appearances in Perth, Queensland and Tasmania), a tour of Germany with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Sir Neville Marriner, and a tour of Mexico with Martyn Brabbins and the Philharmonia.
Alongside his concerto work Matthew Trusler is an accomplished recitalist and an avid chamber musician. Trusler has performed frequently with Wayne Marshall, and the duo’s recent disc – Blues –presents a collection of short pieces by composers directly influenced by jazz. The CD was released to huge critical acclaim, including CD of the week in the Telegraph, and on Classic FM, and Recital CD of the month in Strad Magazine. Trusler regularly performs with pianist Ashley Wass and he collaborates with other eminent musicians including Piotr Anderszewski, Martin Roscoe, Peter Donohoe, Imogen Cooper, Leonidas Kavakos, Lynn Harrell, and Joseph Silverstein. Trusler has performed recitals in leading venues around the world including the Wigmore Hall in London, the Auditorium du Louvre in Paris, and the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels.
Trusler founded Orchid Classics in 2005, and the label now has major distribution internationally, as well as a separate division for PR and concert promotion. In addition the company launched a foundation to help especially talented young British musicians to make and promote recordings. Past and future artists to appear on Orchid in both spoken word and music recordings include Danny DeVito, Clive Owen, Ralph Fiennes, James Gilchrist, Guy Johnston, the Brodsky Quartet, and Ex Cathedra.
In addition to the Rosza/Korngold, Blues and Pity of War discs Trusler's recording activities saw the release of a newly orchestrated version of Heifetz's Porgy and Bess arrangement, with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Carl Davis. This season he records the Britten violin concerto with the Flanders Symphony on Orchid Classics and a new disc for children entitled Fairy Tales and Goblins’ Dances will also be released on the label.
Trusler also has a passion for film, and has recently acted as a consultant on the adaptation of Norman Lebrecht's novel The Song of Names for film, the screenplay being written by Jeffrey Caine (Oscar Nominee for The Constant Gardener). Last season, Trusler recorded the violin solos for the soundtrack of a new French film by director Frédéric Mermoud, Complices.
Matthew Trusler holds teaching posts at the Malmö Academy in Sweden as well as Trinity College, London, and lives in Paris with his wife and two young daughters. He plays a 1711 Stradivarius.
