Aleksey Igudesman

Aleksey Igudesman is a Russian-German composer and violinist known for his humor, virtuosity, and fearless individuality. He is a longtime collaborator with Hyung-ki Joo and John Malkovich, and a contributor to several film scores by Hans Zimmer. Igudesman was born in Leningrad in 1973 to a musical family and was encouraged to explore music from a very young age. He moved with his family to Germany around 1979 and attended the Yehudi Menuhin School from 1984 to 1989, followed by studies with Boris Kuschnir at the Vienna Conservatory from 1989 to 1998. In Vienna, Igudesman became acquainted with pianist Hyung-ki Joo, and he formed the Triology string trio with violinist Daisy Jopling and cellist Tristan Schulze. The ensemble released Triology Plays Ennio Morricone in 1998, Who Killed the Viola Player? in 1999, and the 2003 album Around the World in 77 minutes. Influenced by artists such as Victor Borge and Dudley Moore, Joo and Igudesman formed the duo Igudesman & Joo in 2004, where they combined classical music with humor and pop culture. Some of the pair's programs included A Little Nightmare Music, Big Nightmare Music, and Clash of the Soloists. Igudesman also began collaborating with composer Hans Zimmer and contributed to the soundtracks for several films, including Spanglish, Sherlock Holmes, and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. He released the classical music mockumentary film Noseland in 2012, in collaboration with violinist Julian Rachlin and veteran actors John Malkovich and Roger Moore. Igudesman's 2016 solo violin album Fasten Seat Belts featured his interpretations of his compositions and arrangements utilizing several extended techniques. That same year, he also appeared on You Just Have to Laugh with Joo, and in 2019, the duo published the book Save the World. In another collaboration with Joo and Malkovich, The Music Critic show premiered in 2021, with violinist So-Ock Kim, violist Max Baillie, and Tanja Tetzlaff on cello. A recording of the program was released on the EuroArts label in 2023, and Igudesman also arranged an orchestral version. Additionally, he collaborated with co-founder Julia Rhee on the Music Traveler app, which can be used to find and book rehearsal spaces in major cities. Although Igudesman and Joo announced the duo's retirement in June 2024, Igudesman remains very active as a solo artist and in ongoing collaborations with Lucy Landymore, Hans Zimmer, and Yuja Wang. ~ RJ Lambert, Rovi