Mirijam Contzen

News

NEWS

Mirijam Contzen’s recent recording of the violin concertos by Franz Clement, with Reinhard Goebel and the WDR Radio Symphony Orchestra (Sony Classical) got awarded with the OPUS Klassik 2020!

“Reinhard Goebel’s idea of presenting again forgotten works from Beethoven’s environment turns out to be a” collateral benefit “of the Beethoven year. The Viennese violin virtuoso Franz Joseph Clement, for example, was previously only known through the witty dedication of the violin concerto op. 61: “par Clemenza pour Clement”. In his two violin concertos, Clement, who is ten years younger than Beethoven, can now be discovered as a serious composer, interpreted absolutely convincingly by the great Mirijam Contzen and the WDR Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Reinhard Goebel. They take the music appropriately serious in order to illuminate all its nuances. “

Franz Joseph Clement: Violinkonzerte No. 1 D Major & No. 2 D Minor
Mirijam Contzen, WDR Sinfonieorchester, Reinhard Goebel

Michael Stegemann

Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Bestenliste 02/2020

About

„Die Contzen ist einfach fantastisch. Sie hat einen so selbstverständlichen Zugriff auf die Musik. Sie ist brilliant, glasklar, grosser Ton, eine leichte Hand. Traumhaft schön.“

Eleonore Büning, DLF, 01.04.2020

„Hinreissender Klang…“

The Guardian,07.02.2020

„…energisch und leidenschaftlich..“(CD der Woche)

SR2 Radio,12.01.2020

Ein geigerisches Bravourstück [Max Bruchs „Schottischen Fantasie für Violine und Orchester op.46“], das Mirijam Contzen mit glühendem Ton und makelloser Technik meisterte. Expressiv, elegant und sensibel zeichnete sie die romantische Grundstimmung nach, in feiner Abstimmung mit dem Orchester.

Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, 25.09.2019

Im „Concerto Grande da Chiesa“ von Francesco Maria Veracini übernahm Geigerin Mirijam Contzen den Solopart mit stilsicheren, klanglich faszinierenden Hexenkünsten auf ihrer Bergonzi-Violine.

Saarbrücker Zeitung, 17.04.2018

Die Geigerin Mirijam Contzen verleiht mit ihrem strahlenden, intonationssicheren, hell leuchtenden Ton den Figurationen nicht nur den nötigen Virtuosenglanz, sondern bringt auch die Diskantlage des langsamen Satzes zu intensivem Glühen.

Süddeutsche Zeitung,26.11.2016

“Contzen is simply fantastic. She approaches music with a natural authority. Brilliant, crystal clear, with a big tone and a light touch. Dreamlike beauty.”

Eleonore Büning, Deutschlandfunk, 01.04.2020

Mirijam Contzen is highly esteemed by the international music world as a soloist, chamber musician, festival director, and professor of violin. Her playing combines grandeur and supreme technical mastery with deeply refined interpretations. With her unmistakable sound and expressive power, she brings a unique artistic individuality to every performance.

In January 2020, she released with Sony Classical the recording of Franz Clement’s two violin concertos with the WDR Symphony Orchestra under Reinhard Goebel. The Second Violin Concerto, featured on the album, was a world premiere recording. Clement was the dedicatee of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, which was composed as a response to Clement’s First Concerto. The album was awarded the German Record Critics’ Award (Best List 02/2020) and the OPUS Klassik as “Concerto Recording of the Year.”

In the 2021/22 season, she released another Sony Classical recording as part of the “New Mozarts” series: the first new interpretation since 1965 of the Violin Concerto in E-flat major KV 365, once attributed to W.A. Mozart, with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and Reinhard Goebel. Looking ahead to the 2025/26 season, she will appear with ensembles including the Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, the Philharmonic Orchestra Kiel, and the Kammerorchester Graubünden.

From the very beginning of her career, Mirijam Contzen has been deeply committed to reviving neglected repertoire.
With the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, she recorded Et derrière toi marchent les étoiles by Nicolas Bolens. Her Echo Klassik-winning debut CD (2001) featured rarely played works by Hubay, Ferrara, and Geszler. In collaboration with pianist Tobias Bredohl, she recorded works by Stefan Heucke alongside Hindemith.

Her long-standing artistic partnership with Reinhard Goebel reflects her passion for rediscovered repertoire, including the violin concertos of Franz Clement, Thomas Linley, and Franz Lamotte.

She has performed with leading orchestras worldwide, including the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken, Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra, Israel Chamber Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Mirijam Contzen has collaborated with distinguished conductors such as Iván Fischer, Gianandrea Noseda, Reinhard Goebel, Vladimir Fedosejev, Leif Segerstam, Lothar Zagrosek, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Christopher Hogwood, Eliahu Inbal, Tomas Netopil, Michael Sanderling, Mario Venzago, and Gabriel Feltz.

Her passion for chamber music has brought her together with eminent artists including Emmanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Mischa Maisky, Clemens Hagen, Herbert Schuch, Bernd Glemser, Tobias Bredohl, and Giovanni Guzzo.

In 2016, Mirijam Contzen was appointed Professor of Violin at the Berlin University of the Arts. She is particularly dedicated to fostering young exceptional talents, advancing the training of future music educators, and promoting educational processes within society.

As of July 2025 – biographies are updated regularly. Please use only the latest version.

DOWNLOAD BIOGRAPHY & PHOTOS

Calendar

23/11/2025 17:00

Chur

Clement: Violinkonzert Nr. 1 D-Dur

Kammerphilharmonie Graubünden

Reinhard Goebel, Leitung

10/12/2025 20:00

Berlin

Trio mit Latica Honda-Rosenberg und Henrike Brüggen

@Pianosalon Christophori

12/01/2026 19:30

Gelsenkirchen

J. Brahms: Violinkonzert

Neue Philharmonie Westfalen
Mino Marani, Leitung

@Musiktheater im Revier

13/01/2026 19:30

Recklinghausen

J. Brahms: Violinkonzert

Neue Philharmonie Westfalen
Mino Marani, Leitung

@Ruhrfestspielhaus

14/01/2026 19:30

Kamen

J. Brahms: Violinkonzert

Neue Philharmonie Westfalen
Mino Marani, Leitung

@Konzertaula

01/03/2026 20:00

Rovereto (IT)

Rezital with Herbert Schuch, piano

17/05/2026 11:00

Kiel

W.A. Mozart: Violinkonzert KV 219

Philharmonisches Orchester Kiel
Howard Griffith, Leitung@Theater Kiel

18/05/2026 19:00

Kiel

W.A. Mozart: Violinkonzert KV 219

Philharmonisches Orchester Kiel
Howard Griffith, Leitung

@Theater Kiel

14/09/2025 17:00

Pasewalk

Rezital mit Frank-Immo Zichner

@Luisensaal

13/09/2025 15:00

Bad Schmiedeberg

Rezital mit Frank-Immo Zichner

@Kursaal