Charlie Siem Explained

Charlie Siem
Birth Place:	London, England
Instrument:	Violin
Genre:	Classical
Occupation:	Violinist
Years Active:	2001–present
Label:	Sony Music

Charles Maximilian Siem^[1] (born 14 January 1986) is an English contemporary classical violinist.

Life and career

Charlie Siem was born in London, England, to Kristian Siem, a Norwegian businessman, and his South African-born wife.^{[1] [2] [3]} He has three sisters, all involved in arts: musician and composer Sasha Siem,^[4] visual artist and healing arts/yoga teacher Sophie Madeleine Siem,^[5] and artist and model Louisa Tatiana Kristianne Siem.^[6]

Siem began the study of violin at age three when his interest was piqued upon hearing the cassettes his mother used to play for her children. He went on to study at Eton College and Girton College, Cambridge, and continued his violin studies with Itzhak Rashkovsky and Shlomo Mintz. He performed his first concerto with an orchestra at age 15, and played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at age 18.^[7] He has gained recognition in the past few years by playing alongside artists such as The Who and Miley Cyrus. Among his fans include Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.

Siem is distantly related to Norwegian violin virtuoso and composer Ole Bull.^[8]

He plays a violin made by Guarneri del Gesu from 1735, also known as "The d'Egville". The violin was previously owned by Yehudi Menuhin.

He is married to Countess Viola Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga, first daughter of Count Giberto Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga and Princess Bianca of Savoy-Aosta (daughter of Princess Claude of Orléans).

Reviews

• "Siem also had the deep heart and soul required to make the music sing, in a great romantic combination of drama, passion and tenderness."^[9]
• "Under the Stars" Album of the week on Classic FM "A very attractive selection of favourites, performed with the violinist's trademark grace and intimacy."^[10]
• Gramophone, "Charlie Siem, allowing his tone to soar in a great arch, creates a memorable high-point."^[11]
• "These performances show that his music-making is more than capable of speaking for itself without any kind of special pleading." The Guardian^[12]
• "There was a dumbfounding gap between his retro suavity and the ineptitude of his playing. His intonation, passagework and tone were simply ugly in two works that are stale enough when played well....Mr. Siem teetered on the edge of charm but saved himself with the frigid calculation of his phrasing." The New York Times^[13]
• "...Charlie Siem completely broke people's prejudices with his performance, proving himself through his music and demonstrating the charm of 'the most exciting young violinist in the contemporary music world' on the stage of Beijing Concert Hall. Charlie presented the Beijing audience with masterpieces and sonatas such as Violin Sonata No. 9 "Kreutzer" by Beethoven, Violin Sonata No. 3 by Grieg, Zigeunerweisen by Sarasate and more....His performance was a consummate display of skill. He captivated the audience with his extremely impressive playing, calm stage presence, handsome appearance and astonishing technique." China Art News^[14]

Discography

Siem has released CDs through the years:

• Charlie Siem – Elgar & Grieg (Sonatas for Violin and Piano) - Andrei Korobeinikov - Challenge Classics
• Charlie Siem – Violin Virtuoso - Warner Classics
• Charlie Siem – Bruch, Wieniawski, Ole Bull – The London Symphony Orchestra – Andrew Gourlay - Warner Classics
• Charlie Siem – Tony Banks: six pieces for orchestra - The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - Martin Robertson - Paul Englishby - Naxos
• Charlie Siem – Under The Stars – Münchner Rundfunkorchester – Paul Goodwin – Sony Classical
• Charlie Siem – Midnight Garden - Paravox Records
• Charlie Siem – Between the Clouds - Itamar Golan - Signum Classics

External links

• Charlie Siem Official Website
• Charlie Siem Unofficial Website, launched in January 2016

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records.
2. Web site: Charlie Siem. Port-magazine.com. 28 May 2012.
3. Web site: Celebs you didn't know had SA roots. Channel24.co.za. 2013-07-26.
4. Web site: Sasha Siem. YouTube. 2020-05-16.
5. Web site: Sophie Siem (@sophiesiem) • Instagram photos and videos. Instagram.com. 2020-05-16.
6. https://www.mortimerhouse.com/notebook/article/louisa-siem-contemporary-alchemy-era-disposability/ "Louisa Siem: Meet Art's contemporary alchemist"
7. Web site: So Charlie Siem is Amazing. 19 July 2013. 2 July 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714234553/http://thisisthegoldenage.tumblr.com/post/55842661898/so-charlie-siem-is-amazing-some-people-have-it. 14 July 2014.
8. Web site: About. 30 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111021143639/http://www.charliesiem.com/about. 21 October 2011. dead. dmy-all.
9. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141008/arts-entertainment/Superb-opening-of-season.538907 Superb opening of season
10. [John Suchet]
11. Elgar, Grieg . Gramophone . August 2008 . 66.
12. News: Music Elgar: Violin Sonata Op 82; Grieg: Violin Sonata Op 45 No 3; etc, Siem/ Korobeinikov. Clements, Andrew. 29 May 2008. 31 January 2016. The Guardian.
13. Web site: Impeccably Dressed, With His Violin at the Ready. Woolfe, Zachary. 26 June 2012. New York Times.
14. Web site: Classical Idol at Beijing Concert Hall. Zhang, Yue. Cflac.org.cn. 14 September 2016.