François Fernandez, whose parents were both musicians, was born at Rouen in 1960. While pursuing classic violin studies, he took up the baroque violin at the age of 12. He studied under Sigiswald Kuijken in The Hague (Soloist’s Diploma, Royal Conservatory 1980) and soon became his teacher’s closest collaborator. A member of “La Petite Bande” since the age of 17, he became its leader in 1986. At the same time he worked with the best baroque orchestras of the epoch, usually as leader or soloist: Orchestra of the 18th Century (Frans Brüggen), La Chapelle Royale (Ph. Herreweghe), Melante 81 (Bob van Asperen).

For the last 15 years François Fernandez has devoted himself to chamber music. He has participated worldwide at important festivals with the Ricercar Consort, the Kuijken brothers, the Hantai brothers, Ryo Terakado, Yves Rechtainer, Marcel Ponseele, Boyan Vodénitcharov, Enrico Gatti, and many other prominent musicians. He gives solo recitals, most notably with the Sonatas and Partitas of Bach, and also plays viola, viola d’amore, viola da gamba and viola da spalla.

With Ph. Pierlot and Rainer Zipperling, François Fernandez founded the recording label Flora. He has taught at Toulouse, Liège, Brussels, Trossingen and, since 1998, at the Conservatoire National Supérieur of Paris. He gives summer courses in Spain and Belgium.

more....

Discography