Who is Kristian Winther?
I’m a violinist + conductor living in Sydney.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Play french horn.
Who inspires you and why?
Historical figures like Beethoven, Ligeti, Bartok, Carlos Kleiber, Ivry Gitlis, Alma Moodie, Adolf Busch and Max Reger… too many to name. Then, my favourite artists of today (there are again too many so I’m sorry to leave some of them out!) are Hue Blanes, Katherine Dowling, Shunske Sato, Anna da Silva Chen, The Chiaroscuro Quartet, Olli Mustonen, Beatrice Colombis, Konstantin Shamray, Aura Go, these are all musicians who are REAL, truly original, without artifice, intrepid explorers with incredible spirit!
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I’m perhaps only qualified to make musical suggestions so: Ban all music competitions and replace them with an equivalent number of well-attended concert opportunities for young people.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I do like visiting the Blue Mountains occasionally! And one day I’ll go back to Umbria and Tuscany… I love the landscapes, the food, the feeling of the air and the light.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Where would I take friends who come to Sydney? Melbourne. A tour of simple culinary delights would have to include Journeyman for coffee and breakfast, followed by any one of Boss Pizza, Shujinko Ramen, The Good Felafel, Good Days, Massive Wieners (may it return one day!), Desi Dhaba, France-Soir and Cumulus, to name just a few.
What are you currently reading?
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout.
What are you currently listening to?
Hindemith 1st String Quartet (as played by the Amar Quartet), Gliere 3rd Symphony (Downes/BBC Phil). The Gliere has been an obsession for months!
Happiness is?
Our new kitten Doris.
What does the future hold for you?
Lots of string quartets, piano trios, maybe another seven or eight cats, playing too much chess, watching too many films, middle age, old age, death, reincarnation as a french horn player.
Kristian will perform Respighi’s Concerto Gregoriano – as part of Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s 2025 Season Opening Gala (The Rite of Spring) in the Concert Hall – QPAC from 20 – 22 February. For more information, visit: www.qso.com.au for details.
Image: Kristian Winther – photo by Jan Safar