David Garrett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Garrett
|
|
|---|---|
Garrett performing in 2010
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Garrett Christian Bongartz |
| Born | 4 September 1980 Aachen, West Germany |
| Genres | Classical, Crossover |
| Instruments | Violin |
| Years active | c. 1988–present |
| Labels | Decca, Deutsche Grammophon |
David Garrett (born David Garrett Christian Bongartz on September 4, 1980) is a famous German violinist. He is known for playing both traditional classical songs and modern pop and rock music on his violin. This style of mixing genres is called crossover.
Contents
A Young Star with a Violin
David Garrett's journey with the violin began when he was just four years old. His father had bought a violin for his older brother, but young David became fascinated with it and quickly learned to play. Only a year later, he entered a music competition and won first prize.
His talent was so clear that by age seven, he was studying at a special music school called the Lübeck Conservatoire. At nine, he performed at a famous music festival. When he was 12, he started learning from the well-known Polish violinist Ida Haendel.
At 17, he moved to London to study at the Royal College of Music. Later, in 1999, he moved to New York City to attend the famous Juilliard School, where he studied with the legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman. He graduated in 2004.
From Classical to Rock
Garrett's career took off at a very young age. When he was only 11, he performed for the president of Germany, who then arranged for him to receive his first Stradivarius violin. Stradivarius violins are very old, rare, and famous for their amazing sound.
At 13, he became the youngest musician ever to sign a contract with the major record label Deutsche Grammophon. He traveled the world, playing with famous orchestras in cities like Delhi and Mumbai in India.
As he got older, Garrett wanted to make classical music exciting for young people. He started creating his own versions of famous rock songs and movie themes, playing them on his violin. He performs with a band that includes a keyboard, guitar, and drums, mixing classical pieces with rock anthems in his concerts.
A Famous Accident
Garrett once owned a special violin made in 1772 by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, who was a student of the famous violin maker Stradivari. In 2008, after a performance, he slipped and fell. The violin was strapped to his back and was badly broken in the fall. He was able to get it repaired, but he bought a Stradivarius violin soon after.
World Records and Movies
Garrett is not just a musician; he's also a record-breaker. For a time, he held the Guinness World Record for being the world's fastest violinist.
In 2013, he starred in a movie called The Devil's Violinist. He played the main character, the amazing 19th-century violinist Niccolò Paganini.
He continues to release albums and tour the world, sharing his unique blend of music. His 2015 album Explosive featured many of his own powerful compositions. He has also performed at major events like the UEFA Champions League Final and a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Personal Life
David Garrett was born in Aachen, Germany. His mother, Dove Garrett, was an American ballerina, and his father, Georg Bongartz, was a German lawyer. When he started performing as a child, his parents decided to use his mother's last name, Garrett, as his stage name because it was easier for international audiences to pronounce.
Selected Recordings
Garrett has recorded many albums throughout his career. Here are some of his most popular ones:
Studio Albums
- Free (2007)
- Encore (2008)
- Rock Symphonies (2010)
- Music (2012)
- Garrett vs. Paganini (2013)
- Explosive (2015)
- Rock Revolution (2017)
- Unlimited – Greatest Hits (2018)
- Alive: My Soundtrack (2020)
- Iconic (2022)
DVDs
- David Garrett: Live – In Concert & In Private (2009)
- David Garrett: Rock Symphonies – Open Air Live (2010)
- David Garrett: Music – Live in Concert (2012)
Awards and Fun Facts
- He won a Golden Camera award for Best International Music in 2010.
- From May 2008 to December 2011, he held the Guinness World Record for being the World's Fastest Violinist.
- He received a Bambi Award, a major German media prize, in 2013.
- He won the Frankfurt Music Prize in 2017 for his amazing talent and performances.
See also
In Spanish: David Garrett para niños
