Kristóf Barati is an exciting personality of Hungary's new violinist generation, combining virtuosity with a deep musical sensibility. He proved his exceptional soloist talent at the age of eight with the Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra. Since then he has performed in the concert halls of Venezuela, France, Hungary and Japan. Mr. Baráti won the First Prize at the International Competition for Violinists in Gorizia, Second Grand Prize at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Competition in 1996 and one year later Third Prize and the Prize of the Public at the Queen Elizabeth Competition in Brussels.

Born in Budapest in 1979, he moved two years later with his parents to Venezuela, where his first teacher was Emil Friedman. In 1991, he returned to Budapest where he continued his studies at the Liszt Academy of music under the guidance of Professor Miklós Szenthelyi. His debut orchestral appearance in Miami earlier this year prompted the eminent critic James Roos to write, A reviewer who finds a genuine talent in the long round of debut concerts can feel a little like a weary prospector who suddenly glimpses gold.