The Pažaislis Music Festival invites audiences to discover the artistry of violinist Irmina Trynkos, described by BBC Music Magazine as “an intense and charismatic rising star” and “a phenomenal talent.” Gramophone calls her simply “superb,” while The Strad Magazine praises her as “a vibrant, expressive soloist whose energy never wanes, matching her power with persuasive nuance.” Irmina’s acclaimed recording with Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra—featuring Nimrod Borenstein’s Violin Concerto—earned a prestigious 5-star “Concerto Choice” rating from BBC Music Magazine, which noted that her intensity recalls “Isaac Stern in his golden era.”
From her debut under the baton of Neeme Järvi, Irmina has performed in prestigious venues such as the Berlin Philharmonie, Slovak Philharmonic, Cadogan Hall, Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Toronto Arts Centre, and the Shanghai Concert Hall. Her debut at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw received no fewer than six standing ovations, leading to a major tour across China, including performances at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Chongqing Guotai Arts Center, and Guangzhou Opera House.
With Greek-Polish roots, Irmina left home at an early age to pursue her musical path. Her bold journey shaped her into a passionate advocate of classical music, bringing it to young and diverse audiences alike. She is also dedicated to reviving unknown works for violin and often collaborates with living composers—many of whom dedicate new pieces to her. Irmina performs on a 1670 Jakob Stainer violin.
The violinist’s stage partner in this concert is pianist Sander Sittig from the Netherlands, praised by the press and the public for his poetic and delicate performances. A laureate of international competitions, Sander Sittig regularly participates in festivals in Italy, Israel, Austria and the Netherlands, and frequently performs on radio and television. The pianist is highly regarded in the field of chamber music and regularly performs with great violinists such as Shlomo Mintz, Pavel Berman and Liza Ferschtman. These concerts have taken him to major concerts in all European countries, as well as in Japan, China, Israel, North and South America.
