Vital Julian Frey (Harpsichord)

Born: Switzerland

The Swiss harpsichordist, Vital Julian Frey, trained at the academies of music in Freiburg im Breisgau and Munich, where he completed his Concert and Soloist diplomas under the tutelage of Robert Hill and Christine Schornsheim. Frey also received important artistic stimuli during tuition with Christophe Rousset, Gustav Leonhardt, Kenneth Gilbert, Christiane Jaccottet and Andreas Staier.

Vital Julian Frey is a highly active concert performer. His artistic activities include concerts as a soloist with orchestras such as Capriccio Basel, the Bamberger Symphoniker or the Leipziger Concert, children’s concerts with commentary, and solo recitals as part of internationally famous concert series and at festivals, including the Menuhin Festival Gstaad, Les Muséiques Basel, Bachfest Leipzig, Lucerne Festival, MDR-Musiksommer, Orpheum Musikfesttage Zürich, Bratislava Music Festival, Murtenclassics, Thüringer Bachwochen, Festival van Vlaanderen Brugge. As a chamber musician, Frey collaborates with performers such as Kristin von der Goltz, José Vazquez, Christine Schornsheim, Fiorenza de Donatis, Sabrina Frey, Sergio Azzolini and Reinhard Goebel.

Vital Julian Frey is considered the trailblazer of a new generation of harpsichordists. Technical mastery and a high degree of musicality are as much his trademarks as a convincing stage presence and a good rapport with his audience. Described by the Swiss press as “probably Switzerland’s best harpsichordist”, Frey is also committed to promoting Swiss cultural life, and has performed at important cultural events such as at the Swiss Expo 2002 in Morat, or at the opening of the Zentrum Paul Klee in Berne in June 2005.

Vital Julian Frey has made recordings with several radio stations, including Radio DRS 2, Radio Suisse Romande, Rundfunk Saarbrücken, SWR 2, Radio Bucarest, France Musique, Radio Madrid and Bayerischer Rundfunk. In the summer of 2002 he was awarded the Diploma di Merito by the eminent Accademia Musicale Chigiana di Siena. Frey's new solo CD, The Italian Connection, has just been issued by Deutsche Harmonia Mundi (SONY).

More Photos

Source: Vital Julian Frey Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2008)

Vital Julian Frey: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

Vital Julian Frey - Harpsichord, Clavecin, Cembalo (Official Website)