Anne-Sophie Mutter: The violin virtuoso turns 60
June 28, 2023
"Classical music makes you happy," is a sentiment that Anne-Sophie Mutter would endorse anytime, as she tells DW. So it's no wonder that even now, as she celebrates a birthday, she is staying true to her melodious path.
Mutter is celebrating her June 29 birthday with a series of concerts alongside Mutter's Virtuosi, a group she founded from among the fellows of her foundation. The near-sellout audience at the Berlin Philharmonie, for instance, responded with thunderous and exuberant applause.
And as usual, the star violinist displayed her characteristic virtuosic drive, her flawless tone and signature elegant gowns.
Passion for the violin
When asked how she has endured for so long at the top of her craft, Mutter's response was typically humble.
"I just do what I really love, and what fulfills me,” she said, adding: "If you're lucky enough to discover something early on that makes you happy, and that you can make your career, then it doesn't play a role whether you can pursue that career for 10 years or 50 or more.”
The story of how legendary conductor Herbert von Karajan discovered her in 1976 and mentored her has been told so often that even Mutter seems tired of retelling it. But she remains grateful to Karajan for giving her something very special that distinguishes her career to this day.
She has always abided by a fitting Karajan quote: "'Those who have achieved all their goals have probably set them too low.' Yes, that has absolutely become my creed in everything I do,” she said.
A foundation to support young talents
Mutter understands first-hand the difference a mentor can make for a young performer.
With her organization, Freundeskreise der Anne-Sophie Mutter Stifting,, founded in 1997, and the charitable foundation of the same name that emerged from it in 2008, she tries to give back what she received from Karajan and others at the start of her career. She wants to share her experience, her work ethic and enthusiasm with the young musicians.
"You can't leave much to chance when it comes to the life of a young musician," she said. Taking fellows from her foundation on her birthday tour is perhaps an attempt to avoid that, she explained.
Still open to new things
The musician has remained young and curious at heart, continually exploring new music and commissioning compositions. Some especially spectacular creations were the concert compositions by her second husband, the late composer and conductor André Previn, and the second violin concerto by the legendary writer of film scores, John Williams.
Over the course of her long career, Anne- Sophie Mutter has won just about every award imaginable, including the Praemium Imperiale from Japan, Sweden's Polar Music Prize, and the German Opus Klassik.
But for the mother of two, happiness is defined by more than just musical success. "When my children are in the concert hall. Then everything is there that I hold so dear to me."