Praised by the American Record Guide for encompassing a 'consummate technique and unabashed bravura wedded to a great sense of style… an example to nearly every violinist alive'
Soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, orchestral director, pedagogue and researcher, Nazrin Rashidova’s musical acumen is ensuring a unique place for her in the music world.
Internationally acclaimed Azerbaijani-British violin virtuoso, Nazrin Rashidova made her solo debut at the age of three in Baku, and was awarded a Gold Medal by the Cairo Opera House for an exceptional violin recital three years later. She founded FeMusa Orchestra in 2008, Britain’s first female chamber orchestra in 70 years, which have been featured on BBC World News, Euronews, LondonLive. They have given numerous concerts in London, Oman, Baku, Gabala and Paris.
Having joined the Academy at the age of 15, Rashidova has played on a rare collection of violins by Stradivari and Guarneri. She studied with professors Erich Gruenberg, Felix Andrievsky and Lydia Mordkovitch. A prizewinner in several international competitions, she has appeared on international TV and radio, played for Royalty and other dignitaries, and also performed in the USA, Japan, Europe and the Middle East.
Rashidova’s recordings for Naxos and First Hand Records have been critically acclaimed by The Strad, Gramophone, Diapason, Fanfare, Ritmo, Classical Guitar Magazine, American Record Guide, SWR2 Radio and neue musikzeitung.
Rashidova is recognised as a leading authority on Émile Sauret, having culminated her doctorate at the Academy with the launch of her own edition of his monumental 24 Études Caprices, op.64 published by Edition Peters, following the release of her world premiere four-volume recording series of these works, issued by Naxos between 2017 and 2020. In support of her research, Rashidova was awarded one of the most prestigious awards of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, The John Clementi Collard Fellowship and the The Clarence Myerscough Trust award at the Academy. Three of the volumes were recorded on the c.1685 ‘Sauret’ Stradivari violin, kindly loaned to her by John Ludlow.
She plays on a violin after G. B. Guadagnini Milan 1753, ‘Nazrin’ by David Rattray.
Image: Omur Black
Selected Recordings
Émile Sauret 24 Etudes Caprices, Op.64 Volumes 1-4 for solo violin (Naxos, 2017-2020)
Carnival, arrangements and transcriptions for violin and guitar, with Stanislav Hvartchilkov (FHR, 2016)
Moritz Moszkowski Works for Violin and Piano, with Daniel Grimwood (Naxos, 2015)
Leopold Godowsky Works for Violin and Piano, with Roderick Chadwick (Naxos, 2013)