VC Artist María Dueñas Signs Exclusive Contract with Deutsche Grammophon

Dueñas will record the Beethoven Violin Concerto alongside conductor Manfred Honeck and the Wiener Symphoniker, for release in May 2023

VC Artist María Dueñas has signed an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon (DG). In her first release in May 2023, she will record the Beethoven violin concerto, using her own cadenzas — alongside conductor Manfred Honeck and the Wiener Symphoniker.

Dueñas is a former first and Grand Prix winner at the Leonid Kogan, Georg Philipp Telemann, Zhuhai, and Yankelevitch International Violin Competitions, as well as the "Getting to Carnegie" competition. She was awarded first prize and audience prize in the senior division of the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021. María has also been named one of the 2021-2023 BBC New Generation Artists.

“For me, Deutsche Grammophon quite simply means great music — I grew up listening to my mother’s vinyl DG recordings of Milstein and Oistrakh,” Dueñas said. “So of course I’m thrilled to join the label myself and especially to have the opportunity to record one of the greatest violin concertos ever written. Exploring the Beethoven and developing my interpretation of this work with the wonderful Wiener Symphoniker and Maestro Honeck is a dream come true.”

“María is an audacious young musician who is making a strong start to her recording journey with Beethoven as her first project,” said Valérie Gross, the Senior A&R Director at DG. “There’s a special magic in her playing — an energy and lightness combined with extraordinary depth and sensibility. We’re very much looking forward to working with her.”

“We’re delighted about the new collaboration with María”, said Dr Clemens Trautmann, the President of Deutsche Grammophon. “She’s such an expressive violinist, whose outstanding technical abilities match her sensitivity for sound quality and zest for fresh musical experiences. It’s fascinating to observe that her creativity extends to compositions of her own, high-profile world premieres and audiovisual projects. Such comprehensive talent comes along maybe once in a generation.”