Russian Violin Sensation Ilya Gringolts To Make ACO Debut With Vivaldi, Paganini & Bartók

Russian violin virtuoso Ilya Gringolts will make his highly-anticipated debut with the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) next month, in a dazzling program of Vivaldi, Paganini and Bartók.

Gringolts will perform on not one, but two extraordinary violins in these concerts with the ACO. He will play on a 2011 Matthieu Devuyst violin for the Paganini Violin Concerto No.1, re-tuned so as to replicate how the concerto would have been performed in the early 19th-century by Paganini himself. For the works by CPE Bach, Vivaldi and Bartók, Gringolts will perform on a precious 1723-24 Guarneri, del Gesù violin, tuned to modern pitch.

A former child protégé, who became the youngest ever first-prize winner at the Paganini International Violin Competition at only 16 years old, Gringolts is
renowned for his extraordinary technical command and musical sensitivity. His interpretations of Paganini's music, regarded as the 'Everest' of technique in the violin repertoire, have received critical acclaim with Gramophone Magazine writing of his recording of Paganini's 24 Caprices for Violin, "Where we were once content simply to marvel at the pyrotechnics, now, because of Gringolts, we hear the music."

It was during a broadcast performance of Paganini's First Violin Concerto that ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti first experienced Gringolts' playing, on the radio while driving, and he was so mesmerised that he had to pull over to find out who had made such a visceral impression. This experience saw Tognetti extend an invitation to Gringolts to guest direct the ACO, an offer which Gringolts enthusiastically accepted, and will see him perform that very same concerto with the Orchestra.

"It's always been a dream of mine to play with the ACO, whose recordings I practically grew up listening to and was ever so moved by their energy and creativity," said Gringolts. "What a blessing to be directing and playing with them now. The Paganini Concerto No.1 is a piece I've played for years, but only recently did I discover the original version which requires re-tuning of the violin and gives the instrument a whole different resonating overtone cloud. I am so happy to be able to explore this piece with the ACO!"