Nikolaj Znaider became a star violinist in northwestern Europe, performing and recording most major works in the violin concerto repertory. In the 2010s, he branched out into conducting. Znaider has concertized widely in Europe and North America and is especially noted for his recording career, which began with a live album in 1999. In 2006, he issued an album of Mozart piano trios with Daniel Barenboim and Kyril Zlotnikov. Znaider's growing conducting career has not simply involved conducting from the violin; he was appointed principal guest conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra in 2010. Znaider plays one of the most famous violins in the world, the Guarneri "del Gesu" instrument of 1741, owned for many years by Fritz Kreisler. Znaider returned in 2023 with the album Aux Étoiles, leading France's Orchestre National de Lyon.