Workshop Improvisation von Kadenzen in verschiedenen Stilen mit Gilles Apap

Described by Yehudi Menuhin as „a true violinist of the 21st century“ Gilles is known for his virtuosity, unique approach to music and the skill to bring joy to every concert hall.

He delivers distinctive performances of the standard classical repertoire combined with genres such as jazz and folk from around the world and the result is unique programming merging the borderlines between musical styles. Gilles' artistic freedom and approach to interpretation is based on years of traveling and serious research, exploring the native music of the different cultures worldwide.

Recently Gilles has appeared at the Konzerthaus, Berlin; BOZAR, Brussels; Cadogan Hall, London, and Philharmonie de Paris amongst many others. In November he recorded Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Nordic Chamber Orchestra which is followed by tours in Sweden in May and October this year. He also is regularly leading workshops and education projects across Europe including Gstaad Menuhin Academy, Kronberg Academy and Paris Philharmonie, working with children as well as young professionals and Ariana Todes, former editor of The Strad, published an interview highlighting these eclectic aspects of his career.

Highlights from 2018–2019 season include tours to Russia in October, China in December 2017 and Japan in May 2018 performing his original arrangement of Vivaldi Four Seasons and also performances with Ibrahim Malouf (jazz session at Festival St. Denis), Basel Symphony Orchestra, Brussels Chamber Orchestra, recitals at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, Salle Molière in Lyon, Kuhmo Festival in Finland and Musikverein in Vienna.

After participating in the International Menuhin Competition in 1985, Gilles established a lifelong relationship with Yehudi Menuhin, together they worked on Gilles' legendary cadenza of Mozart's Third Violin Concerto, filmed and directed lately by Bruno Monsaingeon, known for his documentaries about Gould, Richter and Oistrakh, Monsaingeon directed two further films about Gilles Apap and his approach to music, and declared that the violinist's „art represents music in its greatest possible purity“.

„For me, you are the example of a musician of the 21st century. You represent the direction in which music should evolve; on the one hand, the patrimonial respect of the precious classical works (...); on the other hand, the discovery of contemporary [popular] music and its creative element, not only in the improvisation, but also in the interpretation.“
(Sir Yehudi Menuhin)