Ramon Jaffé

Classical is his love – Flamenco is his passion

Born into a family of musicians in Riga, Latvia, Ramon Jaffé emigrated with his family to Israel before coming to Germany. Ramon Jaffé received his first lessons from his father Don Jaffé, who stood by his side as a guide until completing his diploma. In addition to his studies with David Geringas and Boris Pergamenschikow, Daniel Schafran and Sandor Végh served as musical mentors. It is particularly noteworthy that Ramon Jaffé stood by Sandor Végh’s last major performance as a violinist in the Great Mozarteum in Salzburg as a chamber music partner.

Ramon Jaffé successfully mastered a series of competitive storms under the aegis of these masters early on, including the German Music Competition (1984) and the Casals Competition in Budapest (1985). His career as a soloist, which began during his student days, took him to the great houses of Berlin, Amsterdam, Salzburg, Rio de Janeiro, Leipzig, Vienna, Munich, London, Hamburg, and Cologne, among others.

Parallel to his solo career, he also devotes himself to chamber music as a member of the string trio Belcanto-Strings and the Mendelssohn Trio Berlin (formerly Salzburg Piano Trio). His other partners include I. Vermillon, Y. Bronfman, A. Mustonen, A. Frölich, F. Leleux, V. Mendelssohn, J. Rachlin, W. Fuchs, MP Langlamet, B. Schmid, E. Baschkirowa, G. Causse, N. Znaider, and many more.

Ramon Jaffé is the founder and artistic director of the Chamber Music Festival in Hopfgarten / Tyrol .

In addition to these activities, his attention belongs to two other matters of the heart: One of the most artistically exciting encounters was with the flamenco guitarist Pedro Bacan, who died in 1997. He initiated Ramon Jaffé into the secrets of the fascinating world of flamenco. The longstanding collaboration culminated in appearances at all important flamenco festivals in Spain and France. Today the Ramon Jaffé Trio with the dancer Miguelete and the guitarist Gerald Gürtler offer the enjoyment of flamenco of the highest level.

It is something very special to be the main interpreter and undisputed performer of a composer’s world premieres. Getting the “job” wasn’t an art, because the composer is none other than his father Don Jaffé. However, to fill it out worthily, yes. And this constellation is demanding for both sides if the composer is regularly pressed for commissioned compositions by his interpreter.