Mario Hossen is an Austro-Bulgarian soloist of international acclaim. He has performed with renowned orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, the Orchestra Wiener Akademie, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Wiener Concert-Verein, the Sinfonia Varsovia, the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, I Solisti Veneti, the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio, the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, I Virtuosi del Teatro Alla Scala, the Chamber Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey, the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra and the Polish Baltic Philharmonic Fryderyk Chopin in Gdańsk.
read more
Hailed for his incredible virtuosity and charismatic stage presence, he plays a repertoire all the way from Renaissance to Classical music and to contemporary works and Jazz. Together with music by leading last centuries composers, he performs and promotes the works of the great Bulgarian composers Pancho Vladigerov, Marin Goleminov and Peter Christoskov.
Hossen was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. His mother, Nelly Batchvarova, was an opera singer and his father was a lawyer. His ancestry is a blend of four nationalities. He has been living in Vienna since 1991, and in 1995 received Austrian citizenship in the special interest of the Republic. He received his education in Sofia, Vienna and Paris. At the early age of 3 years, he asked for a violin, at 5 he started to play piano, at 6 he began his violin studies in Plovdiv with his first teacher Atanas Batchvarov. Among his teachers are Darina Dankova, Michael Frischenschlager and Gerard Poulet. He had his debut as a soloist with orchestra at the age of eight. Since then, he has given concerts with the major Bulgarian Orchestras and in prestigious international halls of more than 40 countries.
Mario Hossen holds several prestigious Awards, among them the City of Sofia, Musician of the Year award. The oldest Bulgarian Music Festival, the “Varna Summer International Music festival” (1926), under Mario Hossen as Artistic Director, was the European Festival Association (EFA), EFFE laureate for the 2019-2020-season and the winner of the European Audience Award.
He dives deep into every piece, considering the musical historical context and the greatest possible authenticity. Hossen‘s musicological and artistic endeavors are focused among other things on source research on Niccolò Paganini. He is considered as one of the leading interpreters and experts of Paganini’s Music. The complete oeuvre of Paganini for solo violin and for violin with orchestra are available as a historical-critical edition by Doblinger’s “Diletto Musicale” Music Series-Vienna.
Mario Hosen has released 26 CD albums for the Italian record label Dynamic and for Doron Music Switzerland. His discography includes complete concertos of Niccolo Paganini, Max Bruch, Felix Mendelssohn, Johannes Brahms, integrals with all Paganini 15 Quartets with Guitar, the 10 Violin Sonatas of L. v. Beethoven, J. S. Bach and G. F. Handel, as well as world premiere recordings of unreleased works by Paganini, Mozart, Tartini, Rolla and Mercadante. Among the composers who dedicated works to him are Rainer Bischof, Georgi Arnaoudov, Tomás Marco, François-Pierre Descamps, Periklis Liakakis, Roumen Dimitrov, Alessandro Solbiati and Walter Baer.
As a conducting soloist, he leads the Vienna Chamber Orchestra in the concert series “Concert Spirituel” in Vienna.
Prof. Dr. Mario Hossen teach and give master classes around the world, including Bulgaria (New Bulgarian University), Spain (Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia Madrid), France (Conservatoire de Paris), Austria (Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts) along with many others. He has also been invited to be a Jury member at important international violin competitions, including the “Fritz Kreisler” Violin Competition (Vienna), the “Ginette Neveu” Violin Competition (Avignon), the “Tibor Varga” Violin Competition (Sion), “Alfred Binner” Violin Competition, and other competitions in Tokyo, Sofia and Vienna.
He has been artist of “Thomastik-Infeld” since 2008 and plays all concerts exclusively on his preferred “Titanium Solo” and “Dynamo” strings.
In 2019, Mario Hossen accepted the proposal for the recording of the complete Quartets and chamber music works by Paganini and founded the “PAGANINI ENSEMBLE VIENNA”, an ensemble dedicated to the chamber music of Niccolò Paganini, and named Ambassador of the European Paganini Route (2024).
Mario Hossen plays a G.B. Guadagnini Violin (1749), which is loaned to him by the Austrian National Bank..
He is also an Honorary Member of the “Amici di Paganini” Association in Genoa, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to preserving and promoting Paganini’s musical legacy.
Project PAGANINI in VIENNA
Thomastik Infeld Blog by Mario Hossen
REPERTOIRE
CONCERTS & WORKS WITH ORCHESTRA
NICCOLO PAGANINI
– Violin Concerto No.1 In E flat Major, Op.6, M.S. 21
– Violin Concerto No.2 In B Minor, Op.7, M.S. 48
– Violin Concerto No.3 In E Major, M.S. 50
– Violin Concerto No.4 In D Minor, M.S. 60
– Maestosa Suonata Sentimentale, M.S. 51
– Non piu mesta, M.S. 22 (1st recording of Paganini’s original version with violin tuned semi tone higher)
– I Palpiti, M.S. 77 (1st recording of Paganini’s original version with violin tuned semi tone higher)
– Le Streghe, M.S. 19 (1st recording of Paganini’s original version with violin tuned semitone higher)
– Sonata a Preghiera sulla quarta corda, sul tema dal “Mosè in Egitto” di Rossini M.S. 23
– Suonata con Variazioni, M.S. 47
– Napoleon, M.S. 5
– Le couvent du Mont Saint Bernard. M.S. 67
– Religiosa introduzione al Rondo del Campanello M.S. 67/1 (World Premier Recording)
G. ARNAUDOV
– Violin Concerto “Concierto barocco”
W. BAER
– Concerto for two violins and orchestra “Cantus Gemellus” (dedicated to Mario Hossen and Deborah Marchetti)
J. S. BACH
– Complete Violin Concertos
L. van BEETHOVEN
– Complete works for Violin and Orchestra
R. BISCHOF
– Violin Concerto No. 1, Violin Concerto No. 2 (dedicated to Mario Hossen), Double Concerto for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra
G. BOTTESINI
– Grand Duo Concertante
J. BRAHMS
– Violin Concerto in D major – Double Concerto in A minor
M. BRUCH
– Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Scottish Fantasy, Double Concerto
J. CONUS
– Violin Concerto
François- Pierre DESCAMPS
– Violin Concerto “Orphée invaincu” (dedicated to Mario Hossen)
G. DONIZETTI
– Double Concerto
M. GOLEMINOV
– Violin Concerto, Concerto for String Quartet and String Orchestra
K.A. HARTMANN
– Violin Concerto
J. HAYDN
– Complete Violin Concertos
D. KABALEVSKY
– Violin Concerto in C Major
F. KREISLER
– Violin Concerto in C major “In the style of Vivaldi, Viennese Rhapsodic Fantasietta, Caprice Viennois, Liebesleid, Liebesfreud, Schon Rosamarin, La Gitana, Syncopation, Marche miniature viennoise etc.
W. A. MOZART
– Complete works for Violin and Orchestra
F. MENDELSSOHN
– Complete works for Violin and Orchestra
A. PIAZZOLLA
– “Cuatros Estaciones Porteñas”
M. PONCE
– Violin Concerto
C. SAINT-SAENS
– Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, Havanaise
P. de SARASATE
– Carmen-Fantasie, Zigeunerweisen, Zapateado, Romanza Andaluza, Navarra
F. SCHUBERT
– Complete works for Violin and Orchestra
R. SCHUMANN
– Violin Concerto in D minor
J. SIBELIUS
– Violin Concerto in D minor
V. STOYANOV
– Violin Concerto
G. TARTINI
– Devil’s Trill Sonata for Violin and Orchestra – Concerto in D minor
P. TSCHAIKOVSKY
– Violin Concerto in D Major
A. VIVALDI
– 4 Seasons and all concertos from Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’inventione (Opus 8), all Concertos Op. 3 and more then 20 other Violin Concertos
P. VLADIGUEROV
– Violin Concerto No. 1, “Vardar” Rhapsody, “Song” from Bulgarian Suite
M. WEINBERG
– Violin Concerto
E. WELLESZ
– Suite for violin and chamber ensemble
H. WIENIAWSKI
– Concertos and works for Violin and Orchestra
E. YSAYE
– “Amitié”, Symphonic Poème pour 2 Violons et Orchestre
INTEGRAL RECITALS - VIOLIN | PIANO OR HARPSICHORD
J. S. BACH
– Complete Violin Sonatas BWV 1014- 1019
– Complete Violin Solo Sonatas and Partitas BWV 1001- 1006 with Piano accompaniment by R. Schumann
L. van BEETHOVEN
– Complete Violin Sonatas
J. BRAHMS
– Complete Violin Sonatas
G. FAURE
– Complete Violin Sonatas
G. HANDEL
– Complete Violin Sonatas
W. A. MOZART
– Complete Violin Sonatas
F. SCHUBERT
– Complete Works for Violin and Piano
WORKS FOR VIOLIN & PIANO (Flute, Violoncello, Viola, Clarinet, Cristal, Harp)
AMERICAN COMPOSERS: A. Copland, C. Ives, L. Bernstein
AUSTRIAN COMPOSERS: J. Haydn, W. A. Mozart, F. Kreisler, R. Bischof, I. Eroed, G. Einem, G. Waldeck, A. Webern, M. T. von Paradis, A. Schoenberg
BULGARIAN COMPOSER: G. Arnaudov, S. Dragostinov, M. Goleminov. P. Vladiguerov, L. Pipkov, P. Hadjiev, M. Kolarov, P. Christoskov, M. Leviev
CZECH COMPOSERS: A. Dvorak, J. Suk, J. Benda, L. Janacek
HUNGARIAN COMPOSERS: B. Bartok, Z. Kodaly, E. Hubay, F. Liszt, J. Joachim, E. Dohnányi
GERMAN COMPOSERS: J. S. Bach, G. Telemann, L. v. Beethoven, M. Reger, R. Strauss, C. M. Weber, R. Schumann, M. Bruch, E. Schhulhoff, W. Henze
FRENCH COMPOSERS: C. Franck, M. Ravel, C. Saint-Saëns, G. Tailleferre, O. Messiaen, J. Françaix, F. Gossec, Jean-Marie Leclair, A. Magnard, J. Mazas, Ch. Dancla, F. Poulenc. M. Deneuve
ITALIAN COMPOSERS: T. Albinoni, A. Corelli, F. Geminiani, G. Tartini, A. Vivaldi, T. Vitali, O. Respighi, A. Rolla, S. Mercadante, I. Fiorillo, P. Locatelli, P. Nardini, G. Torelli, A. Solbiati
POLISH COMPOSERS: H. Wieniawski, K. Szymanowski, M. Weinberg, K. Penderecki
RUSSIAN COMPOSERS: P. Tschaikovsky, R. Shchedrin, D. Shostakovich, S. Prokofiev, A. Schnittke, R. Gliere, G. Catoire
SPANISH COMPOSERS: T. Marco Aragón, E. Sanz Velez, J. Turina, J. Arriaga, M. de Falla, P. Sarasate, F. Mompou
SWITZERLAND COMPOSERS: W. Baer, B. Mersson
WORKS FOR SOLO VIOLIN
J. S. BACH
– Sonatas and Partitas, BWV 1001- 1006
N. PAGANINI
– 24 Capricci, Op.1, M.S. 25
– Capriccio: “Nel cor piu non mi sento” M.S. 4
– Capriccio M.S. 54
– Caprice d’Adieu, M.S. 68
R. BISCHOF
P. CHRISTOSKOV
E. SCHULHOFF
E. YSAYE
JAZZ- TANGO/ SPECIAL
– C. BOLLING – Suite for Violin and Jazz Trio
– A. PIAZZOLLA – “Cuatros Estaciones Porteñas” Quintet and other original pieces
CHAMBER MUSIC with 3 and more instruments
NICCOLO PAGANINI
– Complete 18 Quartets
– Napoleon, M.S. 5 (World Premier Recording with guitar)
– La Primavera, M.S. 73 (World Premier Recording with piano)
– Sonata movimento perpetuo, M.S. 66 (World Premier Recording with piano)
– Terzetto per Violino, Violoncello e Chitarra, M.S. 69
– Sonata Concertata, M.S. 2 and Sonatas with Guitar
J. S. BACH – Goldberg Variation for String Trio, arr. D. Sitkovetzky
L. v. BEETHOVEN – Piano Trios
J. BRAHMS – String Sextets Nr. 1 and Nr. 2
A. BRUCKNER – String Quintet
A. BORODIN – String Quartet No. 2
E. CHAUSSON – The Concert for Violin, Piano and String Quartet
C. DEBUSSY – Piano Trio
G. FAURE – Piano Quartet Nr. 1
C. FRANCK – Piano Quintet
M. GLINKA – Grand Sextet, Trio Pathétique
J. HUMMEL – W. A. MOZART
G. MAHLER – Piano Quartet
F. MENDELSSOHN – Piano Trio, Piano Sextet, String Octet
O. MESSIAEN – Piano Quartet “Quatuor pour la fin du temps”
W. A. MOZART – Piano Quartet. Clarinet Quintet, Flute Quartets
F. SCHUBERT – Trout Quintet (Forellenquintett)
R. SCHUMANN – Piano Quartet, Piano Quintet
J. SUK – Piano Quartet
J. STRAUSS – Waltz arr. by A. Schoenberg, A. Webern, A. Berg
CONCERTS
27. APRIL 2026
Sofia (BG)
Bulgaria Hall
Wiener KammerOrchester
Mario HOSSEN, Violin
Lars TOMTER, Viola
Georgi DIMITROV, Conductor
Works by W. A. Mozart
18. APRIL 2026
Château de Chimay (BE)
Théâtre du Château de Chimay
PAGANINI ENSEMBLE VIENNA
Chamber music works by Paganini
17. APRIL 2026
Vienna (AT)
Wiener Hofmusikkapelle
Concert Spirituel
Les Orpheistes
Mario HOSSEN, Violin, Conductor
VIVALDI versus PAGANINI
08. APRIL 2026
Udine (IT) Teatro Palamostre
PAGANINI ENSEMBLE VIENNA
Chamber music works by Paganini
06. APRIL 2026
Vienna (AT)
Minoritenkirche
Easter Concert – Concert Spirituel
Les Orpheistes
Mario HOSSEN, Violin, Conductor
Music by Corelli, Torelli, Tartini, Bach, Haydn
06. DECEMBER 2025
Vienna (A)
Minoritenkirche
CONCERT SPIRITUEL IN VIENNA
“VIVALDI IN VIENNA”
LES ORPHEISTES Orchestra
Mario HOSSEN – Soloist und Conductor
ANTONIO VIVALDI
Concerto in g-Moll, RV 157
Concerto in C-Dur, RV 114
Concerto für drei Violinen in F-Dur, RV 551
Sinfonia aus Griselda, RV 718
Concerto in d-Moll für Violine, Streicher und Basso continuo, RV 235
Sinfonia aus Olimpiade, RV 725 für Streicher und Basso continuo
Concerto für vier Violinen in B-Dur, RV 553
05. DECEMBER 2025
Plovdiv (BG)
Drama Theatre
I VIRTUOSI DEL TEATRO ALLA SCALA
Mario HOSSEN – Soloist und Conductor
SEASONS & MIRACLES
ANTONIO VIVALDI – Concerti in RV 157, RV 114, RV 269, RV 269, RV 297, RV 293
NICOLO PAGANINI – “I Palpiti” Variations on an Aria from Rossini’s opera “Tancredi” M.S. 77 , Rondo del Campanello M.S. 67/1 (arr. R. Leopold), Sonata “Preghiera” on one string, on a theme from Rossini’s “Moses in Egypt” M.S. 23, “Le Streghe”, M.S. 19
29. 30. NOV. & 1. DEC. 2025
Madrid (ES) Auditorio Nacional
Sevilla (ES) CITE
Salamanka (ES)
PAGANINI ENSEMBLE EU TOUR 2025/26
Mario HOSSEN (Violin)
Marta POTULSKA (Viola)
Liliana KEHAYOVA (Violoncello)
Alexander SWETE (Guitar)
NICOLO PAGANINI
Quartetto Nr. 2 in C-Dur, op. 4, M.S. 29
Terzetto concertante für Viola, Violoncello und Gitarre, M.S. 114
Capriccio a violino solo ‘Nel cor più non mi sento’ in G‑Dur, MS 44
“Rondo della Campanella” M.S. 67/1 (arr. Rudolf Leopold)
GHEORGHI ARNAOUDOV
“Canzoni Ardenti” I & II (Uraufführung)
FRANZ LISZT
“Consolation” No. 3 (arr. Rudolf Leopold)
NICOLO PAGANINI
Quartetto n. 12, M.S. 39
RECORDINGS
EDITIONS
GALLERY
LABEL
Dynamic Opera and Classical Music
Dynamic S.r.l – Via Mura Chiappe, 39 16136 Genoa, Italy
Tel. +39 010 2722884 | Fax +39 010 213937
dynamic@dynamic.it | www.dynamic.it
PARTNERS
Österreichische Nationalbank | www.oenb.at
Thomastik – Infeld | www.thomastik-infeld.com