When and where was your first concert with the MCO?
My first concert with the MCO was in Bremen in 2006 with Daniel, Brahms 2nd symphony.

What do you need to feel at home whilst on tour?
I like to feel close to the people, walk to restaurants and talk to everyone as if I was living in that city. I need to feel part of wherever I am and share the daily routine.

What is the best thing about being a musician?
Being able to find and understand yourself through music.

If you could play another instrument what would it be?
I think I would play cello, for its natural elegance and the role they play in music.

The first piece of music you fell in love with:
Hindemiths Viola Sonata op.11 no. 4, my first viola CD when I was a child.

BIOGRAPHY
Anna Puig was born in Cervera, Spain in 1982. She was awarded with Honours in viola and chamber music while studying in the Music School in Cervera and at the Conservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona with Prof. Paul Cortese. In 2002 she moved to Berlin to continue her studies at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, first with Walter Küssner and in 2005 with Prof. Tabea Zimmermann. In 2008 she finished her postgraduate studies in Berlin, again with Honours. She has attended master classes with Thomas Riebl, Wolfram Christ, David Quiggle, Bruno Pasquier, Antoine Tamestit, Paul Neubauer, Bruno Giurana and Diemut Poppen.

Anna has been a member of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra since 2009. Before that she was a member of the EUYO and GMJO, and has had the opportunity to play with great conductors and gain great musical and personal experiences. She also collaborates with other orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Mozart Orchestra. She is a regular member of the BandArt Orchestra under the direction of Gordan Nickolich and of the Cadaques Orchestra. She is regularly invited to be a guest soloist with the Euskadiko Orkestra, Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra, Orquesta de la Radio-Televisión Española, Orquesta Ciutat de Barcelona and Orquestra del Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.

Anna has always been interested in chamber music and has been a member of several chamber music groups, such as the Mercury-Quartet in Berlin, the Quijote-Quartet (which specializes in Ibero-American music) and the Noyas Quartet, founded in Berlin under the leadership of Ilan Gronich. Anna has taken part in chamber music master classes with Heime Müller (Artemis Quartet), Tokyo String Quartet, Maria Graf, Rainer Kussmaul, Andras Schiff and Tabea Zimmermann.

She has made some solo appearances with symphonic orchestras such as the Andrés Segovia Orquesta, the Youth National Orchestra from Catalunya, the Gonçal Comellas Orquestra and the ensemble Vigo 430, and plays solo viola with the orchestra Camerata de la Schubertíada.

Anna Puig has performed at the Santander Music Festival, Accademia Musicae in Ferrara and Potenza, Pacific Music Festival and at the LUCERNE FESTIVAL. During her career, she has received support from many foundations, such as Juventudes Musicales de España, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Fundació Agustí Pedro i Pons and Generalitat de Catalunya.

Click here to read Anna's Tour Diary entry (23.01.2012)
Click here to read Anna's Tour Diary entry (10.11.2010)
Click here to read Anna's Tour Diary entry (18.05.2009)

ANNA'S PERFORMANCES WITH MAHLER CHAMBER SOLOISTS