Irène Duval, violin

Born in France, to a French father and Korean mother, Irène Duval grew up in Japan, Indonesia and Hong Kong before returning to France at the age of 11. A graduate of the Conservatoire de Paris and Kronberg Academy, Irène is firmly establishing herself as a compelling and versatile performer with a strong interest in combining little-known works with works central to the repertoire.

Praised for her “...mastery of phrasing and of the dramatic dimension…” (Diapason), and her ‘...poised, fearless energy, chamber intelligence and musical finesse…’ (Charlotte Gardner, DSC Audio), Irène has won multiple international competitions and is an active performer of concerti, recitals and chamber music.

Recent highlights include her first performances in the US at the Rockport Music Festival and at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, her debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the first symphonic concert by an international orchestra in Mauritius, her first appearance at the Verbier Festival playing with Janine Jansen, a Debussy concert with Jean-Efflam Bavouzetat Wigmore Hall, and her Australian debut at the Bendigo Chamber Music Festival. Last November, she played in a 5-concert celebration of the centenary of Gabriel Fauré at Wigmore Hall, performing sonatas and ensemble works with Joshua Bell, Jeremy Denk, Blythe Engstroem, Steven Isserlis and Connie Shih.

Irène performs at major venues and festivals in Europe, including the Konzerthaus Berlin, Wigmore Hall, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Salle Gaveau, Dresdner Kulturpalast, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, Philharmonie de Paris, the Liszt Academy in Budapest, and La Folle Journée in Nantes.

Concerto highlights include collaborations with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Dresdner Philharmonie, Kremerata Baltica, Orchestre d’Auvergne and Sinfonia Varsovia in Tokyo.

Upcoming concerts include Brahms G Major sonata with Stephen Kovacevich at his 85th birthday celebration at the Wigmore Hall (also featuring Martha Argerich), the Beethoven Triple Concerto with Steven Isserlis and Alasdair Beatson in the Canary Islands, and a recital with Connie Shih at Wigmore Hall.

Her recital recording with pianist Angus Webster, ‘Fauré and Friends’ was released by Capriccio Records in 2024 to uniformly positive reviews. She also participated in Steven Isserlis’ best-selling recording, ‘Music of the Angels’, featuring the music of Boccherini, released by Hyperion in the same year. Her recording debut with orchestra ‘Lost Violin Concertos’ is to be released next year by Capriccio.

Chamber music holds a big space in Irène’s heart and she feels lucky to have had the chance to play with musicians such as Christian Tetzlaff, Ferenc Rados, Gidon Kremer, Olli Mustonen, and Renaud Capucon. She participates with great pleasure in Open Chamber Music at IMS Prussia Cove in Cornwall, Krzyzowa Chamber Music Festival in Poland, and was invited to Norsjo Chamber Music Festival in Norway and Chamber Music Connects the World Festival at Kronberg Academy.

Irene studied with Suzanne Gessner and Jean-Jacques Kantorow, before entering the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris in 2008 in the class of Roland Daugareil; in 2014 she joined the Kronberg Academy in Germany, where she studied with Mihaela Martin for three years.

She has been supported by ArteMusica Stiftung, Fondation pour la vocation Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, Fondation d’Entreprise Banque Populaire, Günther Caspar Stiftung, Fondation de l’Or du Rhin, and Fondation Safran pour la musique.

Irène plays a beautiful Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin, which is kindly on loan to her through the Beare’s International Violin Society.