‘Saiga Antelope’: an album of female composers by Viktoria Elisabeth Kaunzner

Classical music, created in the 21st century, can be so vivid, intellectual and deeply derived from heartful emotions that audiences love its freshness and want to re-enjoy premiered pieces. The classical music scene is highly suffering through political budget cuts, and it is driven by musical woman power more than ever.

Described as the modern extension of Paganini and Ysaÿe, Berlin based violin soloist-composer Viktoria Elisabeth Kaunzner shares exquisite musical woman power in a unique format: Her CD album Saiga Antelope, released in Women’s History Month this March seems a world’s first featuring two violin concertos by two female composers: Violeta Dinescu (Roman Fleuve, a dedication to Viktoria) and Argentinian Claudia Montero on one album. Times of Rain & Sun, a commissioned piece from Uzbek-Australian Elena Kats-Chernin and Viktoria Elisabeth Kaunzner´s compositions Saiga Antelope, Silk Road, Jasmine Rice and Lucid Dreams complete this album.

In 2022 Viktoria Elisabeth Kaunzner received in total US$250,000 in funding for her concert tour EurAsian Flow, plus a $150,000 scholarship from the German Music Council and further Korean governmental and private fundings – a tremendous recognition of her musical merits. It was a dream came true: she assembled in her orchestra UKOREVV - Universal Korean Organic Ensemble - Viktoria & Virtuosi — 30 young fabulous virtuosos from 15 nations. They toured through prestigious German concert halls such as the Munich Herkulessaal, Cultural Palace Dresden or Laeiszhalle Hamburg. As highlight of the tour, live at Philharmonie Berlin, the female composers’ violin concerto marathon is available here:

As a 12-year-old child prodigy, she gave her solo debut with Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra Plzen. Supported by legends such as Daniel Barenboim, Yehudi Menuhin and Ivry Gitlis, she studied at the University for Music ’Hanns Eisler’ Berlin, CNSMD Paris, with Zakhar Bron in Cologne and composition with Krzysztof Meyer. At 28 she was selected at Franz Liszt Music University Weimar as youngest female professor of violin and chamber music for its branch in South Korea at Kangnam University. Enthusiastically loving the fascinating rich Korean culture, she also combines in her compositions traditional Korean musical instruments (Gugak) with Western instruments allowing unheard sound colours of enormous beauty and complex rhythms. 

After seven years in Seoul, shortly before the Covid pandemic, she moved back to Berlin and founded the non-profit organisation UKOREVV – Universal Korean Organic Ensemble – Viktoria & Virtuosi Berlin. UKOREVV aims to provide long-term musical support for the Virtuosi, including international networking and continue to support their individual career paths. The aim is to establish this orchestra, for which a general sponsor or private fundings are being sought:

Viktoria Elisabeth Kaunzner is the first German female violin soloist to have recorded all Ysaÿe solo sonatas, on the ’Midori, David’ Guarneri del Gesù violin. She is described as ’a composer as well as a violinist, and like many composers who are also performers, she has looked deeper into the music she is playing than others do.’ (American Record Guide) All CDs of the Stradivari Artist were nominated for a prestigious Opus Classic Award, described as ’World Class’ (Class).

At Victory Academy Berlin for musical excellence, she prepares students online and in-person for auditions and competitions:

Learn more: at viktoriavirtuosi.de and viktoriakaunzner.com