Latvian Violinist Baiba Skride Brings Her Signature Song-Like Playing to the Sydney Opera House Stage

Music has always played an important role in the life of Latvian violinist Baiba Skride. Born into a musical family, her father (a choir conductor), mother (an accompanist) and grandmother (a singing teacher), encouraged Skride and her two sisters to practice singing and learn instruments from a young age.

"We Latvians are a very musical people," Skride says. "Singing is a big part of our culture. If there is something festive going on, there will be singing, so from the earliest age I did that. I was four when I started the violin. We have a special school system in Latvia for talented kids who want to become musicians, so that's what I did."

The violinist, who last performed with the SSO in 2010, will make her welcome return to the Sydney Opera House on the 10, 12, 13 & 15 May to perform Prokofiev's brilliant First Violin Concerto with conductor Andris Poga, who also happens to hail from Latvia.

"It's just this very small concerto that's like a little jewel," Skride says of the concerto. "It's not the most easy concerto to play, because it's so delicate. You have to kind of find so many little details... but when it works well, it's really, really beautiful."

Known for her refreshing interpretations, her intuitive sensitivity and delight in giving performances, Skride rocketed to international fame in 2001 upon winning first prize at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition at only 20 years old. She has since been in-demand as a soloist the world over, reguarly performing with major orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre de Paris.

Skride plays on the Yfrah Neaman Stradivarius, her fourth Stradivarius instrument, and has an extensive discography, including two CDs recorded with her younger sister, pianist Lauma Skride.

Tickets available from the SSO Box Office on (02) 8215 4600 or choose your own seat at sydneysymphony.com.

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