Georgy Kovalev
violist
Georgy Kovalev is a Georgian violist praised for his work as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader. Born in Tiflis, Georgia, he studied with Nobuko Imai at Kronberg Academy and with Tabea Zimmermann at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin.
A prize winner and finalist at several international competitions, including the Yuri Bashmet International Competition and Tokyo International Viola Competition, Kovalev has appeared as soloist with orchestras including Kremerata Baltica, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Moscow Soloists, and New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.
As a recitalist and chamber musician, he has performed throughout Europe, Russia, Asia, and the United States. His collaborators include Martha Argerich, Gidon Kremer, Christian Tetzlaff, Steven Isserlis, Yuri Bashmet, Fazil Say, Emanuel Ax, and Jörg Widmann, with appearances at festivals such as Schubertiade, Verbier Festival, Ravinia Festival, Heidelberger Frühling, Rheingau Festival, and Kronberg Academy Festival. He is principal violist of Amsterdam Sinfonietta.
Kovalev’s recordings include Bach’s The Art of Fugue with the Delian Quartett, nominated for an Opus Klassik Award. He plays a rare Antonio Mariani viola, made in Pesaro around 1670, on generous loan from the Stretton Society.
