Xavier de Maistre belongs to an elite category of soloists who are redefining what is possible with their instrument. Aside from commissions from composers such as Krzysztof Penderecki and Kaija Saariaho, he performs works like Smetana’s “Ma Vlast” with breathtaking precision, presenting masterful arrangements of works that are usually played by an entire orchestra.
Xavier de Maistre has appeared with major orchestras under the direction of such eminent conductors as Bertrand de Billy, Daniele Gatti, Kristjan Järvi, Philippe Jordan, Riccardo Muti, An-drés Orozco-Estrada, André Previn, Simon Rattle,
Heinrich Schiff and Gilbert Varga
He performs at many of Europe’s leading festivals, including Schleswig-Holstein, Salzburg, Rheingau, Vienna and Verbier, Budapest Spring and Wurzburg Mozart Festival. He collaborates with such chamber music partners as Diana Damrau, Mojca Erdmann, Daniel Müller-Schott, Baiba Skride, Arabella Steinbacher and Magali Mosnier.
Following a season as resident artist with the WDR Sinfonieorchester, de Maistre’s 2015/16 season opens with the world premiere of Pendrerecki’s Harp Concerto, with the Orchestre de Paris at their new Philharmonie hall, followed by the UK premiere with London Philharmonic Orchestra, with the composer conducting, and the Nordic premiere with Danish National Symphony Orchestra. He gives solo recitals in such diverse centres as Duesseldorf, Geneva, Cardiff and Beirut.
Xavier de Maistre was born in Toulon and began studying harp aged nine. He his studies culminated in Paris with Catherine Michel and Jacqueline Borot. In 1998 he was awarded the first prize at the International Harp Competition in Bloomington, Indiana. He immediately became the first French musician to join the ranks of the prestigious Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra – a position which he left in summer 2010.
photo Gregor Hohenberg