Violinist Pierre Amoyal

Pierre Amoyal is well known to music lovers. He has played with the greatest conductors and orchestras in the most prestigious concert halls of the world. This virtuoso is also the lucky owner of the one of the most beautiful violins ever made : the famous "Kochanski," a Stradivarius that was stolen from him in 1987, and which was miraculously recovered four years later by the Italian "Carabinieri".

When Amoyal was only twelve years old, he completed his studies at the Paris Conservatory with a First Prize. The prodigy then left for Los Angeles to study with the legendary Jascha Heifetz. The two spent five intense years together, culminated by chamber music concerts and recordings with the cellist, Gregor Piatigorski.

At the age of 22, he made his European debut with the late Sir Georg Solti and the Orchestre de Paris, followed by appearances in all of the major European capitals, as well as in the USA, Canada, Mexico, South America and in the Far East. Amoyal has played under the most important conductors of the last three decades: von Karajan, Ozawa, Boulez, Maazel, Solti, Pretre, Sanderling, Roshdestvensky, Rattle, and Mung Whun Chung, to name only a few. His first appearance with the Berlin Philharmonic under Maestro von Karajan in Berlin was followed by many further performances with this orchestra, including the German premier of the Dutilleux Concerto under Lorin Maazel. In 1985, he made his recital debut in Carnegie Hall, which received outstanding critical acclaim.

He was the youngest musician ever to be nominated as a professor at the Paris Conservatory Following his move to Switzerland, he now teaches at the Lausanne ConservatoryAlso in Lausanne, he initiated a novel music academy, dedicated to the violin/piano repertoire, which he gives annually with Bruno Canino.

Pierre Amoyal is a very touching example of a virtuoso whose exceptional talents never hindered his love of hard work, nor a development of the most essential human qualities.

The Camerata de Lausanne, Switzerland

The brainchild of violin virtuoso Professor Pierre Amoyal of the Lausanne Conservatory, the Camerata de Lausanne was founded in 2002, reviving the tradition of ensembles performing without a conductor. 

Depending on the repertoire, solo violinist Pierre Amoyal is accompanied by between four
and six violins, two violas and two cellos. The Camerata de Lausanne is made up of talented young musicians who receive musical training of the highest calibre combined with the opportunity to get a foot on the first rung of the professional ladder.

Although from very different backgrounds, the young musicians come together to form a cohesive, dynamic ensemble united by a common instrumental tradition. During rehearsals, the emphasis is on interpretation based on a genuine exchange of views and emotions
with Pierre Amoyal, who then pulls the whole thing together.

A series of Swiss and international concerts are planned for the coming months. The ensemble also recorded a CD in 2003.