Richard Tognetti Essentials

If an anonymous donor gives you a 1743 violin so precious that it's worth a reported 10 million dollars, you better be good. Richard Tognetti is very, very good. Appointed artistic director and leader of the acclaimed Australian Chamber Orchestra when he was only 25, he approaches the work of Beethoven, Bach, Mozart and Dvořák with gusto and an adventurous spirit. Tognetti is also a keen surfer who favours finless boards—you can hear that same on-the-edge spirit in his playing, as he both attacks and caresses the instrument on an wide range of material, from classical to contemporary.