Xavier
de Maistre

No one could have imagined at that time what to expect—like Xavier de Maistre himself, when he decided to change the face of the harp 16 years ago. Today he plays pieces like Moldau by Smetana in breathtaking precision and presents masterful pieces of music that are usually played by an entire orchestra. Meanwhile, a worldwide audience listens to his virtuosity and enjoys the unprecedented sounds. Pieces, that no harpist played before, or even thought about—like the Haydn piano concertos. Not only that makes him one of the most extraordinary musicians, even masters of this time.

Xavier de Maistre began to study harp with 9 years. Early, it turned out that Xavier has a great talent and no wonder he started with 25 years to play for the Vienna Philharmonic. Before that he played 3 years for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and in 1998 Xavier won the first prize of the »USA International Harp Competition«, the major harp competition in the world.

For a musician, he achieved very early what all harpists dream of—a position in one of the best orchestras in the world, the Vienna Philharmonic. Finally, he succeeds to establish the harp as an independent instrument. During his career, many great conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Andre Previn, and Daniele Gatti became curious on him and his passion and asked him to play with them. A long series of concerts follows, convincing the audience that Xavier de Maistre is undoubtedly the master of his instrument. Not for nothing, beside famous conductors, also the most successful singers like Barbara Bonney, Kathleen Battle and Diana Damrau played with him. Likewise, of course, the long list of world-renowned opera houses which he had already visited: Theatre des Champs Elysées Paris, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Musikverein Vienna, Tokyo Opera City, Lincoln Center New York, Salzburg Festival, La Scala Milan, and many others. No wonder, Xavier’s enthusiasm and his gift to play will not put an end to this success story. Awarded with the Echo Klassik Award 2009 for his album Nuit d’Etoiles as »Instrumentalist of the Year« (Sony Music) he reaps the fruits of his labor.

For more than 9 years Xavier de Maistre has been working as a professor at the Musikhochschule Hamburg and now also teaches at the Julliard School in New York, at the Toho University in Tokyo, and in London at Trinity College. After 11 years with the Vienna Philharmonic Xavier leaves his position in order to devote himself to his international solo career—a step that no harpist has done before.