Leonidas Kavakos
violin
About this Artist
Leonidas Kavakos is recognized across the world as a violinist and artist of rare quality. Acclaimed for his captivating artistry, superb musicianship, matchless technique, and for the integrity of his playing, Kavakos performs with the world’s leading orchestras as both soloist and conductor and in recital at the world’s premier venues.
Highlights of Kavakos’ 2025/26 season included performances with the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Minnesota Orchestra and as Artist-in-Residence at the Dallas Symphony, where he was featured as both a soloist and a conductor. In Europe, he appeared with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and Frankfurt Radio Symphony and conducted the Czech Philharmonic, Philharmonia, and Barcelona Symphony orchestras.
Kavakos’ award-winning discography includes the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and Riccardo Chailly and the Beethoven Violin Concerto, which he conducted with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. He was named ECHO Klassik Instrumentalist of the Year for his recording of the complete Beethoven violin sonatas with Enrico Pace. With Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma, Kavakos has released a series of trio recordings to critical acclaim.
Kavakos curates an annual violin and chamber music master class in Athens, where he was born and brought up in a musical family. In 2022, he was elected a member of the Academy of Athens as the Chair of Music in the Second Class of Letters and Fine Arts for his services to music. In 2024, he was appointed professor of violin at the Basel Academy of Music. Kavakos plays the “Willemotte” Stradivari violin of 1734.