Virtuoso Ilya Gringolts directs the Australian Chamber Orchestra in a program that pushes the violin to its fiery limits

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 Australian Chamber Orchestra (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 Australian Chamber Orchestra is one of his favourite ensembles, collaborators capable of answering his nuance and creativity with their own curiosity and skill.

Gringolts and the Australian Chamber Orchestra 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 Australian Chamber Orchestra, in this fiery display from two of the world’s greats.