SONIG TCHAKERIAN - a violinist of Armenian descent, began learning to play the violin as a young girl under the guidance of her father. She then had the opportunity to study under world-renowned violinists such as Giovanni Guglielmo, Salvatore Accardo, and Nathan Milstein. As the artistic director of the chamber orchestra 'Settimane musicali al Teatro Limpico' in Vicenza, Sonig has created many unforgettable musical experiences. Thanks to her charisma, she was also chosen to conduct masterclasses in violin playing at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome.
Her discography includes all of Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin' (Decca Records, 2013), 'Sonatas op. 23, 24, and 47' and 'Kreutzer Sonata' by Beethoven, released as part of Ludwig van Beethoven's works series by Deutsche Grammophon in 2010; Samuel Barber's 'Violin Concerto' and Leonard Bernstein's 'Serenade for Violin' (Amadeus Records, 2006); all of Joseph Haydn's 'Violin Concertos' (Arts Music, 2001), 'Violin Concerto No. 5, Vieuxtemps' and 'Rondo Capriccioso' by Camille Saint-Saëns (Audiophile Sound, 1997), all works for violin and piano by Maurice Ravel (AS disc, 1991) and all trios by Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann, and Franz Schubert, including 'Italian Trio'. Sonig is one of the few violinists among virtuosos of this instrument who have performed all of Paganini's Caprices live. These concerts were recorded and released on a CD in 2003 by Arts Music.
After winning many awards, including at the Paganini Competition in Genoa, the International ARD Music Competition in Munich, and the Premio Vittorio Gui in Florence, Sonig has performed in many chamber music recitals and concerts with prestigious orchestras such as the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich, the Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra in Milan, and the Teatro San Carlo Orchestra in Naples. Sonig has also performed at the Verona Colosseum with the chamber orchestra I Solisti Veneti and with the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto. She has collaborated with famous conductors such as Luis Bacalov, Pierro Bellugi, Riccardo Chailly, Daniele Gatti, Antonio Janigro, Daniel Oren, Claudio Seimone, and Emil Tchakarov.
Many composers have written pieces specifically for Sonig, including Claudio Ambrosini, Luca Mosca, Nicola Campogrande, Carlo Boccadoro, and Michele Dall'Ongaro. Louis Bacalov dedicated his own version of 'Stagioni', a piece by Astor Piazzolla for solo violin and string orchestra, to her.
The press and music critics have written about Sonig Tchakerian: a performer with 'enchanting charm, charismatic moral rigor, and a beautiful and exceptional ability to harmonize phrases' (Lorenzo Arruga); a violinist who can 'breathe soul into a virtuoso performance' (Giorgio Vitali); an artist with 'seductive agility that works wonders' (Julian Haylock); a violinist who 'matches Martha Argerich with her deep, majestic, and balanced tone' by 'carving Schumann's Sonata like a romantic, moving, and pain-filled masterpiece' (Cesare Galla); one who 'conveys emotions by immersing the sound color in a spell full of emotional states' (Andrea Bedetti); an artist with a 'vibrant sound... both as a soloist and conductor, constantly seeking unique bow strokes' (Enrico Girardi).
Sonig is constantly seeking new experiences. Therefore, she recently embarked on a jazz adventure by recording a new album with Decca, inspired by Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons'. The album will be released soon. Other musical pursuits of the violinist include combining the music of Johann Sebastian Bach with the works of Anselm of Canterbury, as well as her concert tours, meetings, and exploration of her Armenian roots. These two elements, cultural heritage and new experiences, are invaluable to Sonig.