Irmina Trynkos

Irmina Trynkos has just been hailed by BBC Music Magazine “an intense and charismatic new star” and “a phenomenal talent”. The Gramophone calls her simply “excellent”. The Strad Magazine calls her ”an agile and expressive soloist (…whose) poise never falters and matches her sense of power and conviction”. Her new recording with Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra for Chandos Records features Nimrod Borenstein’s Violin Concerto and brought her the coveted 5 star BBC Music Magazine “Concerto Choice”. BBC Music Magazine praises Irmina’s playing, whose “intensity recalls Isaac Stern’s golden period”. Since her breakthrough performance conducted by Neeme Järvi at the Oistrakh Festival, Irmina has been establishing herself on the worldwide stage as “a genuine artist of exceptional talent” (Polish Radio). Her concert highlights include performances at the Berliner Philharmonie, Slovak Philharmonic, London’s Cadogan Hall, Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Shanghai Concert Hall and most recently the debut at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam which received no less than 6 standing ovations. Her debut CD with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra became NAXOS’ best-seller of the season and straight away landed in the Top 20 Specialist Classical Charts. Luxembourg’s major music magazine Pizzicato awarded Irmina’s CD with its coveted Supersonic Award, calling her interpretation “engaging and eloquent”. The impact of this pioneering recording was in fact so major that it received personal praise by Naxos’ founder Klaus Heymann. As Fanfare reveals, “musical intelligence and emotional depth are hallmarks of Trynkos” and it is her curiosity that was the leading force behind the Waghalter Project. Thanks to her discovery of the genius artistic personality of Ignatz Waghalter, audiences around the world finally have the chance to get to know the once celebrated conductor, composer and his thriving music. Being Polish-German and of Jewish heritage made his life turbulent in the Europe of the 30s and 40s and led to his subsequent neglect. This extremely touching story accompanies his music’s revival in Irmina’s debut CD, including premiere recordings of all his violin works heard for the first time in 100 years. Irmina was invited to represent the UK on a cultural visit of the Lord Mayor of London to China. Irmina’s Asian debut with the Shanghai Opera Orchestra at the Shanghai Concert Hall was received with a torrent of applause and praise. She was featured in major news outlets like the Oriental Morning Post, Wen Hui Bao, Xinmin Evening News, the Xinhuanet portal, Phoenix Television and others. Following this success, Irmina was invited to give an extensive tour of China, which included debuts at Shanghai Oriental Centre, Chongqing Guotai Arts Centre and Guangzhou Opera House. Irmina’s performances and recordings are being broadcasted on international radio stations including BBC3, Radio 4 Netherlands, Kol Ha Musica Israel, Polish Radio 2, Concertzender Netherlands, Kulturradio Germany, Radio New Zealand and many more. Most recently Jewish Renaissance Magazine made Irmina “Artist of the Year” and she was featured on BBC Xtra, where she was interviewed and played live to an audience of more than 36 million worldwide. “Irmina is a very natural performer, always giving her outmost and impressing the audience with her interpretation, warmth and sensitivity. She loves being on the stage, which comes through in her playing and communication with the listeners” said acclaimed violinist Lydia Mordkovitch after one of her protégé’s recitals. Irmina’s Greek-Polish background, leaving bravely home at an early age and her troubled youth have strongly influenced her view on the world and the music. She became an unrivalled communicator and champion of classical music to the young and to new audiences as part of events for Live Music Now, The Worshipful Company Of Musicians and Concordia Foundation and others. Irmina is a strong advocate of expanding the violin repertoire. She is involved in reviving unknown violin compositions and always interested in working with living composers on their new pieces. Most recently she has premiered Nimrod Borenstein’s “Sonata Concertante”, which has been dedicated to Irmina and will be included on her next CD recording. Irmina plays on Jakob Stainer Violin from 1670.