Jean-Jacques Kantorow

Jean-Jacques Kantorow is a modern exemplar of the great French-Belgian violin school, with a dash of influence coming from his Russian ancestry. He has also become noted across Europe in his second career as a conductor. In 1974, Kantorow made his recording debut on the soundtrack to the film Un coeur en hiver. He grew into conducting as an orchestra leader, serving in that capacity with the Orchestre de Paris in 1977 and 1978 and with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra from 1978 until 1984. He became the principal conductor of the Auvergne Chamber Orchestra in 1985. Of his more than 160 recordings, dozens remain available. In 2024, he led the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra on a recording by violinist Philippe Graffin of recently rediscovered violin-and-orchestra works of Eugène Ysaÿe.