Arnaud Thorette | Viola

Due to "his creativity, enthusiasm and dedication" Arnaud Thorette belongs among the most promising viola players of his generation. He has won prizes at the International Viola Competition in Genova, Paris, Nuremberg and Haverhill, and was awarded numerous distinctions, among them the Prix Académie Ravel.

His repertoire ranging from Baroque to Contemporary Music to Tango provides a wealth of variety for his own musical expression. He has already premiered over 30 works, most of which were especially written for him.The French music magazine Classica-Répertoire voted him 'Young Musician - Discovery of the Month' in May 2006. In the same year another CD of his, "Tenebrae", was greeted with unanimous acclaim by the critics. More recordings were to follow, dedicated to Philippe Hersant (Triton) and Johannes Brahms (Universal). In 2009 three more recordings will be added: the Collected Works for Viola of Max Bruch (Cyprès) with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, "Masques" - Karol Beffa (Triton) and "Café 1930 - Tangos" with the Ensemble Contraste (Zig Zag Territoires).

Arnaud Thorette performs at major concert halls, from the United Kingdom to Japan, France and Germany. He guest-performs with orchestras such as Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, Orchestre d'Auvergne, Slovak Philharmonic, Philharmonic Orchestra of Lisbon. He performs among others with the string quartets Ebène, Psophos, Modigliani; the Trio Wanderer and cellists Marc Coppey, Henri Demarquette, Jérôme Pernoo and Jean-Ghilhem Queyras.

He is playing "Il Duende", an instrument custom-made for him in 2000 by Jean-Louis Prochasson. His projects are supported by the Fondation Orange, the Fondation Singer-Polignac and SAFRAN.