'Stylish virtuosity from Lea Birringer'
'Birringer makes an eloquent case for these rarely heard and little-recorded works. Her tone is rich and focused, and her full deployment of a range of portamento and rubato testify to her intuitive identification with this music. [...] The Mendelssohn is sure to dominate Birringer’s concerto engagements but it’s a pleasure to make the acquaintance of the unfamiliar Sinding works in such committed and satisfying performances here.'
The Strad, July 2022
Nomination for ICMA 2022
The International Classical Music Awards ICMA announced the nominations for their Awards 2022, celebrating the best musicians and recordings. This year’s nominations include Lea Birringer's album Transformation which was entered in the category 'Solo Instrument'.
'Birringer combines youthful freshness with a beguiling subtlety of phrasing and dynamic.' (The Strad)
New album 'Transformation'
For her album Transformation, Lea Birringer wanted to approach Johann Sebastian Bach and his musical heritage over the span of centuries and explore some of the great compositions that have been created with Bach as a guide and role model.
Alongside his third Partita, Lea has chosen works for solo violin by Max Reger, Lera Auerbach, Ernst-Lothar von Knorr and Eugène Ysaÿe, which span from the Baroque to the present day.
Culture despite Corona
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many concerts have been cancelled since 2020.
But this unfamiliar situation also opens up new and creative possibilities.
See the latest videos of Lea Birringer in self-isolation - with Astor Piazzolla's Libertango in a version for 4 violins (all played by Lea) and a humorous tribute to Indiana Jones.
Nominations for the 'International Classical Music Awards' and the 'German Record Critics' Award'
With her new CD Di tanti palpiti Lea Birringer is causing a stir: The recording featuring virtuoso bravura pieces has both been nominated for the German Record Critics' Award and the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) 2020.
The International Classical Music Awards are the only international prizes for classical CDs and DVDs worldwide. The 21-member jury consists of chief editors of the most important European music magazines, radio stations and online portals.
The German Record Critics' Award (PdSK) is an independent association with a jury panel consisting of music critics, writers, musicologists and editors from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
For more information about the new album please click here.
'Di tanti palpiti' above the clouds
You can now enjoy Lea Birringer's new album Di tanti palpiti as part of the Lufthansa In-flight Entertainment programme. Have a good flight!
'Virtuosity at the highest level' - Lea Birringer receives Supersonic Award
Lea Birringer is honored with the Supersonic-Award by the pizzicato magazine.
Read the full review here.
On her new solo album 'Di tanti palpiti' Lea Birringer launches a fireworks display
Her 'playing carried by the highest precision' (SWR2) is one of the many reasons why Lea Birringer has long been regarded as 'one of the outstanding violinists of the young generation' (NDR Kultur).
Having recently made a name for herself with two duo recordings in collaboration with her sister, pianist Esther Birringer, the British label Rubicon Classics is now releasing Lea Birringer's
solo debut album Di tanti palpiti, which features virtuoso bravura pieces. Lea Birringer's deep affinity and artistic conviction inspired her to select this highly
virtuosic repertoire, which includes some of her absolute favourites among the violin literature. Waxman's 'Carmen Fantasie' is on the programme, as well as Sarasate's 'Gipsy Airs' and Paganini's
'I Palpiti' Variations. The German violinist brings her unmistakable qualities to this recording: Verve, passion and 'full-blooded commitment' (Gramophone) are the characteristics which
Lea Birringer is most often associated with. Plenty of attention to detail coupled with high conceptual standards characterise the violinist's playing, while she 'seemingly casually unleashes
fireworks on the violin' (O-Ton).
Lea Birringer on her violin is at the centre of this production, but she is not on her own: the collaboration with her sister Esther Birringer, which has been successful for years, works
brilliantly again. The pianist inspires with her accompaniment through sensitive and equally captivating playing, while she elicits melodies from her instrument 'full of intimate lyricism and
sparkling fluency' (Voralberger Nachrichten). She excellently rounds off the overall impression.
'LIFELINES' ABOVE THE CLOUDS
Lea and Esther Birringer's recent 'Lifelines' album released on Rubicon Classics is now available on the Lufthansa in-flight entertainment system. Enjoy your flight!
A firework display in Wieniawski's Concert Polonaise
'In the Birringer family, romanticism doesn’t mean to radiate bliss, but to show what a piece is actually all about. Esther wonderfully lets off steam on the piano, while Lea seemingly casually unleashes fireworks on the violin. […] In any case, the audience are blown away.'
O-Ton, 15 May 2018
From fairytale-like to highly dramatic: The new album from sisters Lea and Esther Birringer taps into late Romantic emotions
'Lifelines' gathers highly dramatic and deeply romantic pieces from Grieg, Liszt and Franck. "The pair approach them with style and the full-blooded commitment they bring to the entire disc." (Gramophone)
Following their debut recording from three years ago, which featured seldom-played repertoire from the 20th century, their new label Rubicon Classics now releases their second album 'Lifelines', containing late Romantic works. This sees the two sisters dramatically bridge the gap between the musical worlds of emotions of the 19th century, spanning the works of the phenomenal Edvard Grieg to the emotive elegies of Franz Liszt to the highly dramatic César Franck.
'Overall, this is a terrific, engaging release that offers the excitement of a live performance with the perfection of execution and acoustic you only get from a studio recording; in other words, the best of both worlds. Don’t miss it.' (The Arts Fuse)
'Complete rapture in the auditorium'
At her recent rendition of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, where she performed with the Jenaer Philharmonie, violinist Lea Birringer’s 'flawless virtuosity combined with wonderfully balanced sound production' brought about 'complete rapture in the auditorium.'
(Thüringische Landeszeitung)
Here you can watch the video taken live from Volkshaus Jena with Lea Birringer playing an encore by J. S. Bach.
'FANTASTIC SOLOIST'
The Main-Post newspaper just wrote about Lea Birringer, 'After the first two pieces [...] it was a violin soloist who was to enchant the audience at Bad Neustadt's brand new cultural centre.
Just as gracefully as masterly, Lea Birringer played Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's Violin Concerto in E Minor. With a sprightly nimbleness, she circumnavigated the many high difficulty passages of the piece and created a truly memorable listening experience rife with clarity and purity. Wonderful.'
She will be playing Mendelsohn's Violin Concerto again on 19 May, this time with the Jenaer Philharmonie under the baton of Jürgen Bruns. We'd like to invite you to this event!
EXCITING YEAR AHEAD
Lea Birringer looks forward to a season filled with exciting performances and special projects.
Highlights are cooperations with the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, the Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra, the Polish Baltic Philharmonic and
the Collegia Musica Cheimgau, as well as debut performances at the Music Festival Usedom, the Milverton Concert Society, Schlosskonzerte Winnenden and Homburger Meisterkonzerte,
among others.
Additional season events include a CD recording together with Lea's sister and acclaimed pianist Esther Birringer.
Following their debut CD, which was highly acclaimed by critics and the music press alike, comes another CD project featuring a remarkable repertoire selection. In co-production with the Saarländischer Rundfunk, the Birringer sisters will be recording pieces of the romantic era together. The CD release on new British label Rubicon Classics is scheduled for autumn 2017.
Discover her anew, time and again
This recently released video takes you behind the scenes and provides you with insights into the musician’s creative world. Immerse yourself into the world of Lea Birringer, and experience the violinist in conversation about music and art.
Classical music in schools: Lea and Esther Birringer involved with ‘Rhapsody in School’ outreach programme
'In a sense, we see ourselves as being ambassadors for our generation.' This statement doesn’t have anything arrogant or apodictic about it. This naturalness is much more a sign of their own, quite personal aura.
Source: Musik & Theater, Special Edition Davos Festival July 2016. Text: Christoph Vratz
NEW CD RELEASED
Following Lea Birringer's debut CD, which was lauded by critics for its originality, comes a new CD project featuring an unusual programme. On October 2nd, the album has been released under the
Brilliant classics label.
EAN: 5028421951362
Recorded with members of the Accademia d'Archi Arrigoni, where Lea Birringer has taught for several years as a visiting lecturer, this CD is the result of a collaboration with the Italian music magazine "Amadeus". The Accademia d'Archi Arrigoni under the direction of Domenico Mason has rediscovered four delightful concertante works by Fiorillo, including two sinfonie concertanti for two violins and orchestra, performed by Lea Birringer and Laura Bortolotto.
'By each bringing an individual character to their solo parts, the violinists Laura Bortolotto and Lea Birringer do not just create a colourfully diverse harmony but also bestow a dramatic profile onto their constant dialogue. The overall result is a lively and in many respects appealing and rewarding recording that manages to bring out the best qualities of this music – especially the ambitious compositions of the first movements..'
Magazin Klassik.com, 18/10/15
Applications are open!
You can now apply for Lea Birringer's upcoming masterclasses in San Vito al Tagliamento (ITA) from November 2015 till May 2016.
The masterclasses will be held on a monthly basis in collaboration with Accademia d'Archi Arrigoni and in coordination with M° Pavel Vernikov.
78° Festival Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
In 2013 the Teatro del Maggio Musicale of the city of Florence, Italy advertised their new season with large oversized posters and banners showing pictures of Lea Birringer with her violin on busses and elsewhere throughout the city.
Next week, she will be back in Florence and play on the occasion of the 78° Festival Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
The program opens with the virtuoso "Figaro" by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, a tribute to the Florentine composer of international renown who collaborated with Vittorio Gui at the birth of the Maggio Musicale. The program follows with two masterpieces of late Romantic literature for violin and piano, the Sonata op.78 of Brahms and Franck's Sonata, with in the middle the Barcarolle for piano by Chopin.
Standing Ovations at Crescendo Winter Music Festival
Read about the successful festival in a commentary for FLORIDA TODAY, the major daily newspaper serving Brevard County.
Invitation to the Crescendo Winter Music Festival in Florida
Lea will perform her US debut (December 2014) at the Crescendo Winter Music Festival in Florida where she will appear as chamber musician in a program comprising works of Borodin, Haydn, Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn. During the festival, she will also hold master classes with the festival’s participating musicians.
For applications (deadline 15/12/14) please click here.
Lea Birringer recorded works by Federigo Fiorillo in cooperation with the Italian music magazine AMADEUS for it's July issue.
Special thanks to the Accademia d'Archi Arrigoni where Lea teaches on a regular basis.
Information under:
Lea & Esther Birringer's Debut CD is on sale!
The disc, featuring works by Szymanowski, Hindemith and Respighi, has been released on the Avi-music label.
Release: 17/01/14
Distribution: Avi-music/Harmonia Mundi
First outstanding press reviews:
'The 2 sisters [...] make an out-and-out commitment to offer us a magnificent, landmark record.'
Clic Musique, April 2014
'Three sonatas that one rarely hears played in concert, are discovered with spirit, vitality and passion.' ORF, 25/04/14
'A very beautiful program, extremely original too, and very well led by two musicians who made a strong impact with their first record.' France Musique, 23/04/14
'Thundering piano chords and a dramatic recitative on the violin impelled by a darkly glowing energy... a thrilling introduction.' FonoForum, Issue April 2014
'Lea and Esther Birringer [...] begin their CD with an exclamation mark. [...] A very bold debut by two already very independently accomplished artistic personalities. The name Birringer is one
to remember.' WDR 3, 06/02/14
'Two sisters have the courage, curiosity and the musicianship to discover chamber music areas that you cannot hear in concert every day. A big compliment for so much obstinacy.' BR-Klassik, 25/01/14
'In order to express the most exquisite nuances, Lea knows how to elicit forever new shades of a brilliant sound coming from her violin played with cool fervour.' SZ, 30/12/13
Playing for the German president
On October 4th, the Birringer sisters had the great opportunity to perform in the Bellevue Palace in Berlin in honor of Mariss Jansons' being awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by President Joachim Gauck.
