site.btaRay Chen, the Violinist of the 21st Century, to Play Mendelssohn in Sofia

Ray Chen, the violinist who redefines what it is to be a classical musician in the 21st century, will play together with the Sofia Philharmonic under the baton of Naiden Todorov. The show will take place at Sofia's Bulgaria Hall on May 5. The bill includes Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, the Sofia Philharmonic said.

With a media presence that enhances and inspires the classical audience, reaching out to millions through his unprecedented online following, the Taiwanese-Australian violinist's remarkable musicianship transmits to a global audience that is reflected in his engagements with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world. Initially coming to attention via the Yehudi Menuhin (2008) and Queen Elizabeth (2009) Competitions, of which he was First Prize winner, he has built a profile in Europe, Asia, and the United States as well as his native Australia both live and on disc.

Chen's first album, Virtuoso, released by Sony Classical in 2011, was praised by critics and received an ECHO Klassik Award. Chen has appeared with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Munich Philharmonic, Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestra Nazionale della Santa Cecilia and Los Angeles Philharmonic.

He plays the 1735 Samazeuilh Stradivarius violin on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. This instrument was once owned by the famed American violinist Mischa Elman (1891-1967).