Artists

Born in Shanghai, the violist Peijun Xu has performed in renowned venues such as the Shanghai Concert Hall, the Laeiszhalle Hamburg or the Alte Oper Frankfurt. She played with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moscow Soloists, the State Symphony Orchestra of New Russia, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, the Flanders Symphony Orchestra, the Baden-Baden Philharmonic, the Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn and the Hamburger Camerata under conductors such as Muhai Tang, Yuri Bashmet, Pavel Baleff, Andreas Holtz, Sebastian Tewinkel, Clemens Schuldt, Junping Qian and Ralf Gothóni. Several times she has premiered new viola concertos such as the work ‘Peregrina’ by Ralf Gothóni, ‘Reflet d’un temps disparu’ Viola version by Qigang Chen and ‘Water Melodies’ by Thorsten Encke. Her chamber music partners include Paul Rivinius, Evgenia Rubinova, Jens Peter Maintz, Alexander Sitkovetsky and Veit Hertenstein.

Peijun Xu’s debut CD with works by Bach, Schubert, Vieuxtemps, Chopin and Rebecca Clarke was released in 2012 on the label ARS. In 2014 her second CD with works by Vieuxtemps, Milhaud, Fauré and Franck was published by Profil Hänssler. Her new CD with harpist Godelieve Schrama with works by Britten, Bax and Saint-Saëns was released in 2020.

Peijun Xu has been awarded several international prizes. 1st Prize and Audience Award at the International Max Rostal Competition, Berlin 2012; 1st prize and two special prizes at the International Yuri Bashmet Viola Competition in Moscow, 2010 and 2nd place at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition in England, 2006. Peijun Xu received her training at the University of Music and Performing Arts Frankfurt am Main under Prof. Roland Glassl, at the Kronberg Academy under Prof. Nobuko Imai and at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin under Prof. Tabea Zimmermann. From 2011-2015 she was a lecturer for viola at the University of Music and Performing Arts Frankfurt am Main and from 2015 -2018 at Detmold College of Music in Germany. Since 2018 Peijun Xu has a professorship for Viola at the Music University Cologne/Aachen in Germany.

She is a brilliant musician and flawless player – [this is the] pure joy of mature viola playing. There is nothing to add. Excellent musician!
Classica.FM

Peijun Xu’s understanding of how to sketch out the poetic intonation of Walton [Concerto] was exemplary. She virtually merged into one unit with her instrument. [...] In Bruch's Romance for Viola and Orchestra, Xu floated into the enchanting melody. Apparent ease and yet also sincere devotion characterized her playing.
Badisches Tageblatt

Xu’s playing was as expressive as it was precise and a brilliant, vigorous finale were not without effect.
Frankfurter Neue Presse