Isabelle Faust
Born: 1972
German violinist Isabelle Faust was born in Esslingen in 1972 and studied with Dénes Zsigmondy and Christoph Poppen (with whom she subsequently recorded the Bach Double Concerto under Helmuth Rilling); early successes included first prizes at the 1993 Paganini Competition in Genoa in 1993. Four years later she won Young Artist of the Year at the Gramophone Awards for her recording of Bartók’s violin sonatas on Harmonia Mundi, with whom she has made three dozens albums. Her discography includes award-winning accounts of the complete Mozart violin concertos with Il Giardino Armonico and Giovanni Antonini (Gramophone’s Recording of the Year in 2017), the Beethoven and Berg concertos with Orchestra Mozart and Claudio Abbado, Beethoven piano trios with Alexander Melnikov and Jean-Guihen Queyras, the Bartók concertos with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Daniel Harding, and the complete Beethoven sonatas with Melnikov (‘the most stimulating and fascinating accounts of the Beethoven violin sonatas I have heard in many years’ – BBC Music Magazine).
Browse: Isabelle Faust
Further Reading: Isabelle Faust
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Isabelle Faust at the Gramophone Awards
9th Nov 2026
Before accepting the Artist of the Year prize at last month's ceremony, the German violinist sat down backstage with Katherine to discuss her winning album of Ligeti - and what's changed since she was crowned Young Artist of the Year back in 1997.
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Isabelle Faust performs Britten's Violin Concerto
12th Apr 2024
The German violinist yet again demonstrates absolute mastery of her instrument with commanding performances of works by Britten, including the world premiere recording of two pieces written whilst the composer was still a schoolboy.
Recent Best Sellers: Isabelle Faust
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J. S. Bach: Sonatas For Violin and Continuo
Isabelle Faust (violin), Kristin von der Goltz (cello), Kristian Bezuidenhout (harpsichord)
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Gramophone Magazine, October 2025, Editor's Choice
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2025, Recording of the Month
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International Classical Music Awards, 2026, Winner - Baroque Instrumental
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2026, Shortlisted - Chamber
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Gramophone Awards, 2026 Shortlist, Chamber
CD: $21.00Download from $12.75 -
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Special offer. Ligeti: Violin Concerto - Concert Românesc - Piano Concerto
Isabelle Faust (violin), Martial Gauthier, Carole Roth, Robin Michael (cello), Jean-Frédéric Neuburger (piano), Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth
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Gramophone Magazine, August 2025, Editor's Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2026 Winner, Concerto
CD: Original price $21.00 Reduced $16.80Download from $12.75 -
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Telemann: Violin Concertos. Overture. Suite. Fantasie
Isabelle Faust (violin), Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (early music ensemble), Ute Hartwich, Edi Kotlyar, Clemens-Maria Nuszbaumer, Katharina Litschig, Bernhard Forck
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2025
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Gramophone Awards, 2026 Shortlist, Concerto
CD: $21.00Download from $12.75 -
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Schubert: Octet
Isabelle Faust (violin), Anne Katharina Schreiber (violin), Danusha Waskiewicz (viola), Kristin von der Goltz (cello), Lorenzo Coppola (clarinet), Javier Zafra (bassoon), Teunis van der Zwart (horn), James Munro (double bass)
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Presto Editor's Choice, May 2018
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The Times Records of the Year, 2018
CD: $14.75Download from $11.50 -
