Peter is the dedicatee of well over 200 works for solo violin, by composers such as George Rochberg, Judith Weir, Michael Finnissy, and Hans Werner Henze
He regularly appears as a soloist in over 30 countries. His discography is extensive, ranging from cycles of sonatas by Beethoven and Telemann, the complete quartets of David Matthews, Michael Tippett, and cycles of concertos from Haydn to Henze.
He has won awards from the BBC Music Magazine, been nominated for a Gramophone Award, as well as a GRAMMY for a concerto recording in 2007. He records for NMC, Chandos, Naxos, Metier and Toccata. Director of an acclaimed series of concerts at Wiltons Music Hall in London, Peter is the founder and leader of the Kreutzer Quartet and the Munich-based Ensemble Triolog. He regularly appears as director and soloist with ensembles such as the Zagreb Soloists and Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen.
Peter is the only British violinist to have been invited to play on Paganini’s violin il Cannone more than once (five times) and he regularly gives recitals on the prestigious collection of historic instruments at the Library of Congress, Washington. He is also acclaimed for his collaborative work with museums, working regularly with the British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Galleries, Victoria and Albert Museum and worldwide. He plays on a 1698 Stradivari owned by Joseph Joachim, which is currently on loan to the Academy from the Fridart Foundation. Peter is the Fellow of Performance Studies at the Academy.
Research Statement
As a violinist, an active soloist and chamber player, Peter’s research interests are integral to his work as a performer. Much of this is on show at the Academy’s SOUNDBOX, a regular series of research events that take place in the Academy’s museum. Numerous works have been written for Peter by leading composers. Recent premieres include works by Matthews, Finnissy, Coates, Hersch, Hallgrimsson, Skempton, Smirnov, Sammoutis, Simaku, Lefanu, Blake, Ruders, Rose, Schwartz, Saxton, Weir, Clarke, Dale Roberts, Aitchison, and Gorton.
Current research interests
‘Revolutionary’ String playing: the disciples of Giovanni Battista Viotti, in their milieu of post-revolutionary Paris
Tartini’s 30 Piccole Sonate
Beethoven and his Werkstatt: the impact of Beethoven’s circle of string players and pupils on his sonata writing
Music and Painting, from the work of painter-composers to collaboration with numerous galleries (Tate St Ives, V & A, British Museum, NPG etc.)
Joseph Joachim: his collaborations, technical approach and subsequent influence
Niccolo Paganini: performance practice, instruments, and influences
Current projects
Only Connect: an exhibition/concert series which I am curating at the National Portrait Gallery in London (from April 2011)
100 Composers, 100 Objects: a residency at the British Museum
Residency at St Bartholomew-the-Great, London, concentrating on eighteenth-century Italian works and specially-commissioned works
Work with the instrument collection of the Library of Congress in Washington DC
Curation of concert series and collaborations at Wilton’s Music Hall in London
Output
Recording projects, publications, exhibitions and residencies include:
Recording of Tartini: 30 Solo Sonatas (Sonate Piccole)
Recording of the complete String Quartets and solo violin works of David Matthews
Recording of Paul Pellay: The Thesaurus of Violinistic Fiendishness
A monograph: Gloria Coates: A performer’s perspective (Hans Schneider Verlag)
Recording of Gloria Coates: Solo Sonata, Piano Trio, String Quartet no. 9
Recordings of works written for Joseph Joachim, on his instruments