Biografie

Robert Zimansky, artistic director of Netzwerk-Kammermusik, can look back on a long, rich career as concert violinist and arranger.

Robert Zimansky was 1st concertmaster of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande for 24 years and taught the advanced violin classes both at the HEM in Geneva and the ZHdK in Zürich. His piano trio with Michal Ponti and Jan Polasek played throughout Europe and the United States and made many recordings. In 1986 he was awarded a Grand Prix du Disque de l'Académie Charles Cros for his CD of the three Schumann sonatas with pianist Christoph Keller, his duo partner for many years. He later played many concerts with Boris Mersson, who was an important influence on his future activities as an arranger.

Zimansky has appeared as soloist with Herbert Blomstedt, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Leif Segerstam, Armin Jordan, Horst Stein, Charles Dutoit, Eliahu Inbal and David Zinman, to name but a few. Noted for his ability to memorize difficult scores, he performed a large number of 20th-century concertos from memory.

After over 40 years as 1st violin of the Camerata Lucerne, later known as Ensemble Fiacorda, Zimanky recently entrusted Philippe Villafranca to continue in this role. Having a vast knowledge of the chamber music and orchestral repertoire, Robert Zimansky has made over 70 arrangements for Fiacorda as well as for the Amadeus Piano Quartet in Geneva, where he still plays with Saya Hashino, Stephan Rieckhoff and Barry Shapiro.

Today Robert Zimansky is quite active with violin and piano concerts, the Amadeus Piano Quartet, and a newly formed string quintet (2 violins, 2 violas and cello) called "Take Five." This ensemble, with younger musicians from the Basel area, presents the six quintets by Mozart as well as works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Dvorák, etc.