Two great musicians are set to captivate music lovers. German violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann performs tonight and American pianist Murray Perahia on October 18.

Last April German violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann took the audience's breath away with an almost perfect interpretation of Beethoven's "D Major Concerto" at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center.

After thunderous applause, the modest violinist played his very different and demanding encore - Paganini's "Introduction and Variations on 'Nel Cor Piu Non Mi Sento'," a piece full of dazzling technique, and again swept the audience away with his virtuosity.

Tonight Zimmermann, in his early 40s, might again take the Shanghai audience by storm, playing Sibelius' "Violin Concerto in D Minor" with the North German Radio Symphony Orchestra.

The program includes Beethoven's "Egmont Overture" and Brahms' "Symphony No. 2 in D." Tomorrow night, without Zimmermann, the orchestra will present an all-Beethoven concert featuring "Leonore Overture No. 3," "Symphony No. 4 in B Flat Major" and "Symphony No. 5 in C Minor."

"I was amazed that he had the energy and capability to play the 10-minute Paganini variation after a Beethoven concerto," recalls Shanghai music critic Li Yanhuan.

"Zimmermann's impressive interpretations remind me of the bygone 'golden age for violins,' when a rainbow of violinists each had special characteristics."

Low-profile Zimmermann is not a familiar name to Chinese audiences.

"He is a very honest, modest man, a very-musician-like musician, unlike many other commercialized musicians of our times," says critic Li, noting that the 45-year-old violinist is now in his prime.

Zimmermann's position in German music circles is equal to or maybe even higher than that of Anne-Sophie Mutter, says Li.