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Backstage: Julia Fischer

Born in 1983, Julia Fischer began playing the violin and piano at the age of three and was taught by Ana Chumachenco as a junior student at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. In 1995, aged eleven, she won the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists. An international career followed, with the sought-after violinist regularly performing with major orchestras and teaching as a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.

Portrait of violinist Julia Fischer. She is wearing a black dress, playing her violin and standing in front of a grey wall.
Copyright: Uwe Arens

Do you have a lucky charm? If so, what is it?

I actually see my violin as my lucky charm. I’m always happy to have it by me on stage.

 

Do you rather tend to be nervous or more of a show-off on stage?

More of a show-off for sure. I don’t like it when concerts start late when I’m already raring to go on stage.

 

Major or minor?

Minor. At the end of the day, I do have a thing for drama.

 

If you were feeling peckish, what would you choose from the snack machine backstage in the Isarphilharmonie?

Actually, I only need tea or (good) coffee before a concert. I rarely snack.

 

What’s the first thing you do when you leave the stage after the final applause?

I discuss with the conductor what we’ll do differently the next day! Or what I’d like to try next time. The best thing about our job is that we never stop learning, we’ve never “arrived”. There are always new paths, new possibilities to explore.

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