Philippe Graffin’s inquisitive mind has often taken us beyond the confines of the repertoire, reflected in his extensive discography, making headlines with its many rediscoveries and exciting premieres.
Whether commissioning a new work, unearthing a hidden manuscript version of a familiar piece, rediscovering a forgotten violin concerto, or collaborating with artists from other fields, Graffin continues to passionately expand the repertoire.
2024 started with the release of "Rêves," a unique project including the world premiere recording of two concertos by Ysaÿe that Graffin was instrumental in resurrecting and that he performs with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow, a recording released by Avie Records.
Graffin grew up in the South of France in an artistic family; his father, a sculptor, was his first violin teacher.
Graduating from the Paris Conservatoire at 16, Philippe furthered his studies with Joseph Gingold at Indiana University, Bloomington, as well as with Miriam Fried and Philippe Hirschhorn in Holland.
Upon hearing him play at the Fritz Kreisler competition in Austria, Yehudi Menuhin invited Graffin to make his debut recording under his baton with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Since then, Graffin has performed on over five continents - from the BBC Proms in London to the
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, in Tokyo or Johannesburg, with the St Petersburg Philharmonic or Gothenburg Symphony, and with some of the emblematic musical figures of our time.
In 2003, Graffin replaced, at short notice, the soloist to perform Rodion Shchedrin’s "Concerto Cantabile,"with Mstislav Rostropovich conducting.
A performance that led to Shchedrin writing another Concerto for Graffin, “Concerto Parlando.”
