Christian Zacharias (DE)

About

Christian Zacharias has built one of classical music's more quietly remarkable careers, equally at home behind a piano or in front of an orchestra. Born in Jamshedpur, India, and trained in Karlsruhe and Paris, he made his name on the competition circuit before launching an international solo career. His 1979 recording of all 33 Scarlatti sonatas still stands out as a serious commitment to a composer many pianists treat as a curiosity. Chamber music has been a constant thread too, with collaborators including the Alban Berg Quartett and the Guarneri Quartet. He turned to conducting in 1992, debuting with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and later made his American bow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Since 2000 he has served as artistic director of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, and he is also a regular guest conductor with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.