Praised for ‘her mastery of phrasing and of the dramatic dimension’ (Diapason), ‘astonishing virtuosity’ (Revelation Classiques) and ‘her infinite delicacy’ (Le Populaire du centre), French violinist Irène Duval is establishing herself as a uniquely compelling performer with a strong interest in combining works central to the repertoire with little-known gems.

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Recent highlights include her debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the first symphonic concert given by an international orchestra in Mauritius, her debut with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe at the inauguration concert of the Casals Forum in Kronberg, her first appearance at the Verbier Festival playing with Janine Jansen, and a Debussy concert with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet at Wigmore Hall. Her three collaborations with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are to be followed by a fourth next season.

As a soloist, she has collaborated with major orchestras including the Dresdner Philharmonie, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Orchestre d’Auvergne, Sinfonia Varsovia, and Kremerata Baltica, working with such conductors as Maxim Emelyanychev, Michael Sanderling, and Robert Trevino.

Irène gives recitals at major venues and festivals in Europe, Japan and Australia, including the Konzerthaus Berlin, Wigmore Hall, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Salle Gaveau, Dresdner Kulturpalast, Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, Philharmonie de Paris, the Liszt Academy in Budapest, and Les Folles Journées in Nantes, Nigata and Tokyo. She frequently appears with pianists Sam Armstrong, Alasdair Beatson, Ariel Lanyi, Mishka Rushdie Momen, and Angus Webster. 

Chamber music holds an important space in Irène’s heart and she enjoys participating in Open Chamber Music at IMS Prussia Cove in Cornwall each year, at the Krzyzowa Chamber Music Festival in Poland, and in Kronberg’s Chamber music connects the world festival. In November 2024, she will be playing sonatas and ensemble works in a 5-concert celebration of the centenary of Gabriel Fauré at the Wigmore Hall, performing with Joshua Bell, Jeremy Denk, Blythe Engstroem, Steven Isserlis and Connie Shih.

Her second disc ‘Fauré and Friends’ will be released by Capriccio on 6th September and she is preparing a third one on the theme of ‘Lost Violin Concertos’ to be released by Capriccio in 2026.

Born in France to a French father and Korean mother, Irène Duval grew up in Japan, Indonesia, and Hong Kong before returning to France at the age of 11. She studied with Suzanne Gessner and Jean-Jacques Kantorow, before entering the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris in 2008 in the class of Roland Daugareil; in 2014 she joined the Kronberg Academy in Germany, where she studied with Mihaela Martin for three years. 

She has been supported by ArteMusica Stiftung, Fondation pour la vocation Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, Fondation d’Entreprise Banque Populaire, Günther Caspar Stiftung, Fondation de l’Or du Rhin, Fondation Safran pour la musique, and in 2021, she was a prize-winner at the Young Classical Artists Trust International Auditions.

Irène plays a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, which is kindly loaned to her by Beare’s International Violin Society.

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Press reviews

"Duval can unleash a focused ferocity and a far-seeing wisdom well beyond her years."

David Nice / The Arts Desk / May 2024

"…this was a riveting performance…it’s the highest compliment that Duval could sometimes draw focus from the most charismatic of cellists. The “vif” (lively) movements were on the right, fantastical kind of edge, while the “Lent” scoured the soul before retreating to its original memorial tone."

The Arts Desk / Fidelio Cafe London with Steven Isserlis and Alasdair Beatson / August 2022

“Of all the recordings in this collection, "Poèmes" (...) is one that most effectively balances the slick new world of French performance with the smoky, claustrophobic atmosphere of music still soaked in the nostalgia of the Belle Epoque."

Contact

To book Irène please contact:

Etta Dainty – Senior Artist Manager [email protected]

Adam Maxey - Assistant Artist Manager [email protected]

0207 379 8477

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Photos © Kaupo Kikkas