Maxim Vengerov studied initially with Galina Turchaninova in Novosibirsk, then at the Moscow Conservatory like many of his generation in the USSR, and finished his formative instruction with Zakhar Bron. His rise was rapid, including debut performances with the Concertgebouw, BBC Philharmonic and USSR State Symphony Orchestras, and he was soon appearing at major international venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Suntory Hall, the Mozarteum and the Concertgebouw Hall. He has performed with a glittering array of important conductors and has more recently adopted this role himself, laying down his violin for much of the time since 2008 amidst much speculation as to the reason for this bold move. Vengerov had likened his solo appearances to being a hamster on a ...