Young Russian Violinist Alina Ibragimova Debuts with Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Regarded as one of the most accomplished violinists of the younger generation, 31-year-old Russian-born Alina Ibragimova will make her Sydney Symphony Orchestra debut next month performing Bartok's breathtaking Violin Concerto No.2 in a brilliant dance-inspired program.

Ibragimova is renowned as a hard-working and versatile musician who has carved out a career performing music from baroque to new commissions on both modern and period instruments.

When she's on stage she has the unique ability to forge an intimate connection with the audience, with The Guardian commenting on her 2015 BBC Proms performance: "The immediacy and honesty of Ibragimova's playing has the curious ability to collapse any sense of distance between performer and listener".

Speaking to The Guardian in 2012, the young violinist said: "I always feel that everybody is participating in the concert... we're all gathering together, to listen or to play. It's such a mutual thing. What I do bounces off the audience."

Awarded a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2016, Ibragimova has received numerous accolades, including the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award in 2010 at age 25.

Ibragimova studied at the Moscow Gnessin School before moving to the UK at age 10, when her father Rinat Ibragimov accepted a position as Principal Double Bass with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Regularly performing with international ensembles, including the London Symphony and the BBC Symphony, Ibragimova also holds residencies with the Strasbourg Philharmonic and at the Casa della Musica in Porto. Her career as a recitalist has seen her perform at prestigious venues worldwide including Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Vienna's Musikverein, Carnegie Hall and Theatre des Champs-Elysees.

Ibragimova will be returning to Australian shores to perform Bartók's Violin Concerto No.2 with the SSO and conductor James Gaffigan at the Sydney Opera House on July 13-14.

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

Photo credit: Eva Vermandel