Death and the Maiden

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Alina Ibragimova to Direct Emotionally-Charged, Death and the Maiden.

When Russian-born violinist Alina Ibragimova takes to the stage, she performs with such electrifying intensity and raw emotion that any barrier between her and the audience is instantly evaporated. Known for her razor-sharp intellect and brilliant imagination, as well as her blistering technique, Ibragimova is a musician who doesn't shy away from exploring the very depths of human emotion through music.

Australian audiences will have the opportunity to see Ibragimova in performance when she joins the Australian Chamber Orchestra to direct a program that celebrates the full range of human expression, Death and the Maiden, which will tour nationally from 15-26 March.

The program will feature Barber's universally adored Adagio for Strings, which was famously used to soundtrack Oliver Stone's Platoon, along with Karl Amadeus Hartmann's Concerto funebre, written in response to the horrors of the Second World War (initially bearing the title Music of Mourning). The program climaxes with Schubert's darkly romantic Death and the Maiden, arranged for string orchestra.

"The idea behind this program is often quite dark. It's death, it's loss, but I think there is also hope," said Ibragimova. "In Schubert's Death and the Maiden quartet, you have both sadness and happiness, sometimes within the same note. It's very tender and touching music."

Born in the city of Ekaterinburg, Russia, Ibragimova grew up surrounded by music. She studied at a state music college before moving to London at the age of ten when her father was appointed Principal Double Bass at the London Symphony Orchestra. Ibragimova was enrolled in the Menuhin School of Music, where her mother taught as a violin professor, and she later studied at the Royal College of Music before embarking on a wildly successful career as a soloist.

Despite living in the UK for so many years, Ibragimova still feels a deep affiliation with her Russian heritage.

"I make it a rule to alternate English and Russian novels, so I don't lose touch with the language," Ibragimova told The Telegraph, UK. "I definitely feel my roots are still [in Russia]. My heart or my soul… whatever you call it… is still Russian."

NEWCASTLE

Newcastle City Hall

Thu 15 Mar, 7.30pm

CANBERRA

Llewellyn Hall

Sat 17 Mar, 8pm

MELBOURNE

Arts Centre Melbourne – Hamer Hall

Sun 18 Mar, 2.30pm

Mon 26 Mar, 7.30pm

SYDNEY

City Recital Hall