Pavel Šporcl

 Pavel Sporcl and his famous blue violin are celebrated around the world. 

He is considered in the 'royal line' of Czech violinists, having been taught by the legendary teacher Vaclav Snitl (himself taught by Jaroslav Kocian who was trought by the father of the Czech violin school, Otakar Sevcik) as well as by Itzhak Perlman, Eduard Schmieder and Dorothy DeLay. Sporcl, whose iconic blue violin was created by leading contemporary instrument maker Jan Spidlen, has done a great deal to popularise classical music in his country - having sold more than 230,000 CDs and frequently appeared on television, including his recent documentary series on the great Czech violinists of yesteryear, and his regular top-rated program introducing children to music. 
 
Sporcl records for Hanssler Classic, for Universal Music, and previously for Supraphon or Cedille Records. His recordings including the Dvorak Violin Concerto with the Czech Philharmonic under Vladimir Ashkenazy, the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Czech Philharmonic under Jiri Belohlavek, the R.Strauss and Korngold concertos with the Prague Symphony Orchestra under Jiri Kout, and the complete Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas. Of his recording of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Gramophone wrote, "Pavel Sporcl has established himself on disc as the most charismatic of Czech violinists, spontaneously imaginative and individual in everything he does..."  His last album, "Christmas On The Blue Violin'' (with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sebastian Lang-Lessing, for Universal Music Group) went platinum within eight weeks and even made the top 10 bestselling pop albums chart of its year (the only classical album to do so).
 
In addition to his classical activities, Sporcl leads a hugely successful Czech gypsy music ensemble that has played more than 350 concerts around the world. He has been presented with an award at the United Nations in New York for his work bringing people together through music, and is a recipient of the Medal Of Merit of the Czech Republic. He is the Artistic Director of the Kocian Usti Festival, Ameropa Music Summer Academy and also of the Znojmo Music Festival.
 
During the pandemic hit 2020-21 season, Sporcl was a tireless innovator and cultural leader - being the first classical musician to perform a 'drive in' concert, the first to give a concert on a lake (to socially distanced audience members in boats!), and giving livestreamed full concerto performances with pre-recorded backing tracks from his living room for The Strad and The Violin Channel. He also tirelessly and successfully lobbied members of the Czech government, in meetings with the Prime Minister, President of the Senate and ministers, to restore concert performances and for the government to be considerate of the plight of locked-down musicians.
 
Sporcl regularly performs internationally, in recent years including London's Cadogan Hall with the English Symphony Orchestra ("This may just be the finest account of Mendelsohn's E minor Concerto that I have heard" - Musical Opinion), a sell-out concerts in Japan  festivals in Europe and tours of the US.