1980-1990
< 1970-1980 1990-2000 >
1989: Winner's Concert for the 2nd Zino Francescatti Violin Competition
Khatchaturian Concerto with Orchestre de Gdansk
Opéra de Marseilles, France
9th September 1989
Newspaper review from “Le Marseillais”
Kun poses with well-known American music critic, Henry Roth
1989: Kun wins 2nd Prize at The 5th Greater Palm Beach Symphony Invitational International Competition
Palm Beach, USA
12th-16th April 1989
“ Chinese violinist Kun Hu playing a technically perfect and emotionally staggering rendition of Bach’s Sonata No.1 in G minor. ”
“ Hu appeared to be the audience favorite, receiving a burst of applause after the second movement of Beethoven’s D Major concerto, in response to his powerful, innovative playing.”
1989: Beethoven Concerto with Queensland Theatre Symphony Orchestra
Concert Hall of Performing Arts Complex
Brisbane, Australia
23/03/89
“ Beethoven + Hu Kun
= MAGIC! ”
1989: Beethoven Concerto with São Paulo Symphony Orchestra
São Paolo, Brazil
08/01/89
1989: Kun signs Exclusive Recording Contract with Nimbus Records
Wyastone Leys
Monmouth, United Kingdom
September 1989
Critic acclaimed recordings with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, English Symphony and Strings Orchestras
1988: Belfast Festival at Queen’s with Ulster Orchestra
Belfast, Northern Ireland
November 1988
1988: Performing with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra
20th October 1988
Iceland
1988: Kun was invited back to Paris to perform a private concert hosted by Madame Chirac at the Hôtel de Ville - her guests included Madame Pompidou
Hôtel de Ville
Paris, France
September 1988
Concerto with Orchestre de Chambre Lyonnais
1988: Kun wins the 1st Prize at the Lipizer International Violin Competition
1988: Playing with Bella Davidovich at Arjeplog Festival
Arjeplog, Sweden
July 1988
1987: Recital in Bayreuth
Bayreuth, Germany
1st December 1987
1987: Berlin Debut Sibelius Concerto with Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
SFB Christmas Eve Broadcasting Concert
Conductor: Lord Yehudi Menuhin
GroBer Sendesaal Haus des Rundfunks
Berlin, Germany
8th October 1987
1987: Kun wins Top Prize at 1st Zino Francescatti International Competition
Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille
Place de L'Archevêché
Aix en Provence, France
8th September 1987
Hu Kun with Ivry Gitlis
1987: Debut tour in Japan with Yehudi Menuhin Conducting
Camerata Lysy Gstaad
Tokyo Suntory Hall
Osaka Symphony Hall
Japan
March 1987
1986: Kun moves to London to become Sir Yehudi Menuhin's only private student
Chester Square
London, United Kingdom
October 1986
1986: Performing Bach Double Concerto with Alberto Lysy at the Menuhin Festival
Gstaad, Switzerland
August 1986
1986: Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival
17th July 1986
1986: Gidon Kremer Festival
Lockenhaus, Austria
8th July 1986
1986: Surprise performance of Ysaye Solo Sonata No.6 for Menuhin's 70th Birthday Celebration
German National TV
Bonn, Germany
1st June 1986
Menuhin’s “thank you” letter to Kun
1986: Sibelius Concerto with Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
Conductor: Andre Bernard
Antibes Juan-les-Pains, France
May 1986
Article on the left sent to Hu by Sir Roger Moore, whose son Christian was Kun's first European student! Read full story
1986: Performing Vivaldi Concerto with
Ivry Gitlis and Michaea Martin
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Ulf Björlin
Stockholm, Sweden
1986: London Debut Recital at Wigmore Hall
London, United Kingdom
Wednesday 12th March 1986
1986: London Concerto Debut Performance of Tchaikovsky at the Barbican Centre - Yehudi Menuhin conducts Philharmonia Orchestra
London, United Kingdom
31st January 1986
BBC Breakfast Show with Yehudi Menuhin prior to the concert
1985: EMI Recording with Yehudi Menuhin and Alberto Lysy at Abbey Road Studios
Bach Triple Concerto
Camerata Lysy Gstaad
Studio One, Abbey Road
London, United Kingdom
28th-30th December 1985
1986: Barbican Christmas Festival
29th December 1985
1985: First UK Appearance with the Camerata Lysy conducted by Sir Yehudi Menuhin at the Queen Elizabeth Hall
Friday 27th December 1985
1985: Hu Kun and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra at City Hall Concert Hall
Wednesday 11th December 1985
Thursday 12th December 1985
1985: “Les Midis en Musique” de Louvain-en-Woluwe
Tuesday 26th November 1985
1985: Hu Kun was awarded the “Grand Lauréat de la Ville de Paris” title by Madame Chirac after winning the 1st prize of the Menuhin International Violin Competition
Salle Pleyel - Paris, France
September 1985
“Concerto” Prize
“Musique de Salon” Category Prize
“Musique de Classique” Category Prize
“Prokofiev Solo Sonata” Prize by Yehudi Menuhin and Madame Chirac
Sibelius Concerto with Orchestre de Paris
See all awards here
Jury Members
1985: Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival with Natalia Gutman, Oleg Kogan, Pavel Vernikov
Kuhmo, Finland
July 1985
1985: Hu Kun wins the 4th Prize and the TV/Radio “Jacques Stehman” Public Prize of the Queen Elisabeth Competition
Juror: Henryk Szeryng, Yehudi Menuhin, Josef Gingold, Igor Oistrahk, Gidon Kremer, Ivry Gitlis
Palais des Beaux Arts
Bruxelles, Belgium
May 1985
Hu Kun and Ivry Gitlis
4ème Prix - Violon 1985
Official Programme
1985: Debut Conducting - last minute request by former teacher Alberto Lysy
Camarata Lysy Gstaad
Soloist: Alberto Lysy
Salle Partino
Geneva, Switzerland
March 1985
1984: Adventskonzert with the Camerata Lysy Gstaad
Saanen and Aarberg, Switzerland
01/12/1984
11/11/1984
1984: First performance for Yehudi Menuhin with Bartok Solo Sonata Chaccone
Upon Kun's arrival from Beijing to the International Menuhin Academy
Kirchgemeindehaus
Gstaad, Switzerland
2nd of September 1984
1981: Shanghai Debut Performance
Shanghai, China
March 1981
1981: Poem dedicated to Kun by the China States Vice Minister Zhang Ai Ping after winning the Sibelius Prize
Conductor: Zheng Xiao Ying
Central Conservatory of Music Concert Hall
Beijing, China
Celebration Concert with Central Opera Symphony Orchestra
Meeting Zhang Ai Ping (China Vice Prime Minister) and Lui Ji (Chairman of the Chinese Musician's Union) after the ceremonial concert
1981: Magazine Front Covers
1981:
Hu Kun was awarded a
2nd Grade PLA military medal in March 1981 for winning the 5th Prize of the Sibelius Competition
Beijing, China
March 1981
1980:
Hu Kun wins the
5th Prize at the Sibelius International Violin Competition at 17 and
was depicted by the Finish press as “The Dark Horse” during the competition
Jury: Josef Gingold, Valery Klimov, Igor Ozim, Arve Tellefson
Prize winners: Victoria Mullova, Sergey Stadler, Andres Cardenes, Oliveira Charlier
Helsinki, Finland
December 1980
Jia Hongguang (2nd Place), Xu Welin (4th Place) of the National Selective Competition for Sibelius International Violin Competition, with Prof. Lin Yao Ji - (1980)
Final rehearsal with Jorma Panula and Helsinki Radio Symphony Orchestra at Finlandia House