The Devil's Violin

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. 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.

Season 2026: Australian Chamber Orchestra

The Australian Chamber Orchestra is one of the most acclaimed chamber orchestras in the world. Led by their pioneering Artistic Director Richard Tognetti, the Orchestra is defined by its exceptional virtuosity and an irrepressible sense of adventure and curiosity.

Tickets

Single tickets on sale Friday 17 October 2025.

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Artists

Ilya Gringolts Director & Violin
Satu Vänskä Violin
Australian Chamber Orchestra

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, RV507

Paul Stanhope
Giving Ground *

Francesco Geminiani
Concerto Grosso No.12 in D minor 'La Follia'

*Commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra.