Augustin Dumay is one of the last representatives of the great European classical tradition and, in particular, of its Franco-Belgian branch which was previously embodied by Ysaÿe and Grumiaux. He first came to the attention of the European public thanks to his meeting with Herbert von Karajan, his concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and his recordings for EMI, a.o. the Concerto’s of Mendelssohn and Tshaikovsky with the London Symphony Orchestra.

His distinctive place as the “grand classical stylist” amongst the violinists of our time has been corroborated by his outstanding recordings of the Mozart concertos with the Camerata Academica Salzburg (violin and conducting, Deutsche Grammophon) “without exaggeration one of the finest Mozart violin concerto discs ever made.” (Julian Haylock, Classic CD) and Beethoven’s complete sonatas for violin and piano with Maria João Pires (Deutsche Grammophon) “which set surely ranks with Grumiaux and Haskil, Menuhin and Kempff or Perlman and Ashkenazy…“.(International Record Review).

Chamber music and orchestral conducting are equally important in his musical trajectory today, attracting increasing interest from orchestras who are inviting Augustin Dumay to assume their direction: he has been appointed Musical Director of the Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia until 2013 and, having been the Principal Guest Conductor of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra in Osaka, he takes up the position of Musical Director as from 2011 for five seasons.

Augustin Dumay performs regularly with the leading orchestras in the world under the direction of the greatest contemporary conductors. He is also very much involved in the developement of a new generation of musicians ; as a master in residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, a new European pilot project based in Brussels, he coaches talented young violinists. Most have met the success in the main international music competitions, and their level is attested by a recent, highly praised recording of the complete Vieuxtemps violin concerto’s (Fuga Libera FUG575).

The film-maker Gérard Corbiau (Le Maître de Musique, Farinelli…) made a documentary film about him –Augustin Dumay – Laisser une trace dans le cœur – shortly to be released on DVD.

His discography  includes some forty recordings, many of which have received prestigious awards  – Gramophone Awards, Audiophile audition, Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Grand Prix du Disque, The Record Academy Award – and is available on the EMI and Deutsche Grammophon labels. His next recordings (2012) will be devoted to Concerto’s of Beethoven and Brahms.