The Devil’s Violin

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The devil played the violin for Tartini in a dream. The music was charismatic, electrifying, fiendishly difficult and utterly transfixing. Tartini awoke and transcribed the melody, penning the Devil’s Trill sonata. It can only be played by someone astounding.

Ilya Gringolts is that player, returning with his dazzling virtuosity and commanding stage presence for his third tour with the ACO. In the rehearsal room, Gringolts brings an intellectual curiosity and joy in experimentation, whether he’s playing Vivaldi or breathing life into new music. On stage, the result is an assured mastery, where the most difficult music appears effortless. The ACO is one of his favourite ensembles, collaborators capable of answering his nuance and creativity with their own curiosity and skill.

Gringolts and the ACO explore their shared passion for authentic interpretations of Italian Baroque music in a sparkling program featuring Geminiani, Tartini and Vivaldi – where Gringolts will be joined by ACO Principal Violin Satu Vänskä – performed in contrast with contemporary works. Enigmatic Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina’s String Quartet No.2 looks to the harmonies of heaven from an unsettled, earthbound soul. Renowned Australian composer Paul Stanhope’s Giving Ground is a dramatic answer to Geminiani’s famous Concerto Grosso.

Experience the violin pushed to its very limits with Ilya Gringolts and the ACO, in this fiery display from two of the world’s greats.

Pictured: Violinist Ilya Gringolts.  Photo: Julian Kingma

Program

Johann Paul von Westhoff Violin Sonata No.3 in D minor: III. Imitation of the Bells
Antonio Vivaldi Violin Concerto in D minor, RV237
Sofia Gubaidulina (arr. strings) String Quartet No.2
Giuseppe Tartini (arr. strings) Violin Sonata in G minor “Devil’s Trill”
Mieczysław Weinberg Aria, Op.9
Antonio Vivaldi Concerto for Two Violins in C major, RV507
Paul Stanhope Giving Ground*
Francesco Geminiani Concerto Grosso No.12 in D minor “La Follia”

*Commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

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