Alina Ibragimova Essentials

The violinist Alina Ibragimova brings conviction and understanding to a remarkably wide repertoire. Whether negotiating the ornamental traceries of Bach Concertos with the period-instrument band Arcangelo, or channelling the defiance and poignancy of Shostakovich’s concertos with conductor Vladimir Jurowski, she offers playing that is both fresh and profoundly engaged. You can sample both those performances here, along with a selection of Ibragimova's other superb recordings. Several involve her long-term pianist partner Cédric Tiberghien: try their superlative accounts of Mozart’s Violin Sonatas, and of Beethoven’s playful yet profound works in that genre. Ibragimova is also a keen team player within her own Chiaroscuro Quartet, which we can hear giving a graceful account of Haydn’s “Bird” Quartet (Op. 33 No. 3), and playing Schubert’s poignant “Death and the Maiden” String Quartet.