Alina Ibragimova makes her no holds barred SSO debut with some fiery Bartok

RUSSIAN-born violinist Alina Ibragimova has been a regular visitor here since 2009 but now she is making her debut with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Alina Ibragimova made her Sydney Symphony Orchestra debut playing Bartok.

• Trio of classics with a tinge of folk
• Across the universe with Mr Brahms
• Dutoit weaves a night of Debussy magic
• Sounds of Paris before the guillotine

RUSSIAN-born violinist Alina Ibragimova has been a regular visitor here since 2009 when as a 22-year-old she directed the Australian Chamber Orchestra in a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

What immediately struck the audience then was the lack of flamboyance and showmanship, coupled with a keen intelligence and faithfulness to the music. Using minimal vibrato she nevertheless managed to bring out subtle shades and nuances, making us shiver in the Winter while playing with all the fire necessary for the joyful Summer section.

Since then she has done a couple of Musica Viva tours with her regular recital partner, French pianist Cedric Tiberghien, but her latest visit shows Ibragimova in a new guise for her Australian fans, performing a full-scale concerto with Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

For this debut she chose a work that may have surprised some in Bela Bartok’s second violin concerto. This is a piece with many challenges, both for soloist and for orchestra, and the fact that the SSO hasn’t presented it for more than 20 years may be significant.

EXCITING

But if it is unfamiliar to Sydney audiences it offers plenty to the listener with spectacular Hungarian folk music-inspired tunes, some of Bartok’s trademark tranquil and beautiful “night music” and cadenzas which match the Brahms and Beethoven works for virtuosic feats.

From the opening attack of the bow on string Ibragimova gave us a muscular no holds barred performance which was exciting, dynamic, balanced and perfectly articulated. From the red-hot cadenza of the first movement to the serenity of the second, in which the violin converses with the timpani, Ibragimova gave it everything she’s got, leaving plenty in reserve for the thrilling finale.

Young American conductor James Gaffigan brought energy and keen precision to the performance which saw the SSO on top form, having been warmed up by a spectacular Hungarian rollercoaster ride in Zoltan Kodaly’s Dances of Galanta as an opener to the dance-themed program.

The evening was rounded out by Sergei Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, music more familiar to SSO regulars from recent outings with Vladimir Ashkenazy and Jakub Hrusa.

DETAILS

● CONCERT: Sydney Symphony Orchestra with Alina Ibragimova

● WHERE: Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

● WHEN: Friday, July 14