Kolja Lessing

Kolja Lessing (born 15 October 1961) is a German violinist, pianist, composer and academic teacher. His focus as a soloist and chamber musician has been the neglected repertoire by composers who were ostracised under the Nazi regime. His recordings include four volumes of works by students of Franz Schreker in his master classes in Vienna and Berlin.

Lessing has taught violin at the Hochschule für Musik Würzburg and the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig, and has been professor at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart from 2000. He has been awarded numerous honours, especially for his dedication to the music of neglected composers.

Life Lessing was born in Karlsruhe. He received his basic music education from his mother. Carl Czerny: The Art of Preluding, Op. 300 (cpo) Max Reger: Complete Works for Violin and Orchestra, Göttingen Symphony Orchestra, cond: Christoph-Mathias Mueller (telos music)

Ignace Strasfogel: Complete Piano Works (Decca)

Franz Reizenstein: Solo Sonatas for Piano, Viola and for Violin (eda records) Franz Schreker's Masterclasses in Vienna and Berlin, vol. 1-4, with works by Karol Rathaus, Jerzy Fitelberg, Grete von Zieritz, Wilhelm Grosz, Vladas Jakubėnas, Berthold Goldschmidt, Zdenka Ticharich, Kurt Fiebig, Alexander Ecklebe, Felix Petyrek, , Leon Klepper and Isco Thaler (eda records)