Ingrida Armonaitė (violin)
Violinist Ingrida Armonaitė graduated from Moscow P. Tschaikovski Conservatoire in 1985, where she studied with prof. Igor Bezrodny. Until 1987 she was developing her practical and theoretical skills during her post-graduate studies at the same conservatoire with prof. Valery Klimonov. Since 1988 the violinist has been working at the National M.K. Ciurlionis College of Arts and Lithuanian Academy of Music, Strings Department, she has become an Assistant Professor in 1999.
The violinist's talent to interpret music has revealed itself early enough. In 1972 and 1976, still while studying at the M.K. Ciurlionis College of Arts, she won the International J. Kocian Competition for Young Violinists in Czech Republic; in 1979 she won the first prize at a national competition and in 1985 took the first prize at the International V. Huml Competition for Violinists in Zagreb. The jury that appraised her performance with such a high award was headed by the world famous violinist Henryk Szering, and this was, perhaps, the only award of such a level among Lithuanian violinists.
Ingrida Armonaitė visited with concerts many European countries. She toured Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Yugoslavia, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia and many countries of CIS, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary and Germany. She has played with philharmonic symphony orchestras from Bucharest, Timishoara (Romania), Prague (Czech Republic), Košica (Slovakia), Zagreb Chamber and TV Symphony Orchestra, chamber orchestras from Kharkov (Ukraine), Riga (Latvia), Klaipėda, St. Christopher, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Lithuania Minor and Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra. The violinist has been regularly participating in festivals in Lithuania and abroad. She has performed many times during the festivals Gaida, Marių klavyrai, Palangos vasara (Palanga Summer), Thomas Mann, Šv. Kristupo vasaros, (St. Christopher's Summer), Naktinės serenados (Night Serenades), Muzikinis rugpjūtis pajūryje (Musical August on the Coast), Pažaislis, Alma Mater Musicalis. She has given concerts during such musical events as Okhridsko leto, Dubrovačke ljetne igre (Yugoslavia), Interforum (Hungary), Cintarea Romaniei (Romania), Bardejovskej hudobnej jare, Košicka Hudobna jar (Slovakia), Janačkuv maj (Czech Republic), Russkaja zima (Russia), Probalika (Sweden), Klassik im Grünen, young. euro. classic. (Germany).
The violinist's repertory is unusually wide and multifaceted. It includes more than ten concertos for violin (by A. Vivaldi, J. S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, F. Mendelssohn, J. Brahms, M. Bruch, H. Wieniawski, E. Lal, P. Tschaikovski, H. Vieuxtemps, J. Sibelius, A. Berg, S. Prokofief, I. Stravinski, D. Shostakovich), many sonatas (by J. S. Bach, L. van Beethoven, J. Brahms, E. Grieg, C. Franck, C. Debussy, M. Ravel, S. Prokofiev, E. Schulhoff, L. Harrison), many classical and 20th century opuses of other genres, including those by Lithuanian composers (O. Balakauskas, E. Balsys, V. Barkauskas, P. Dikčius, V. Germanavičius, A. Jasenka, J. Juozapaitis, B. Kutavičius, R. Merkelis, O. Narbutaitė, V. Paltanavičius, A. Šenderovas, R. Šileika, V. Švedas, M. Urbaitis).
In 1985 - 1993 the pianist Larisa Lobkova was Ingrida Armonaitė's constant partner; since 1996 she has been playing together with the pianist Aušra Banaitytė. One can also hear Ingrida Armonaitė's performance as a part of chamber ensembles and Armonų trio.
Ingrida Armonaitė has recorded many opuses at the Lithuanian Radio; some are published in three compact disks. Two of them include chamber music, where I. Armonaitė participated as a member of chamber ensembles (2000 and 2001), and one solo CD Dialogos, recorded by the Vilnius Records Studio in 2001.
Lithuanian Composers
Vytautas Bacevičius
Concerto for violin and symphony orchestra Op. 51 (1951)
Osvaldas Balakauskas
Rex Re for flute, violin and piano
Eduardas Balsys
Violin Concerto No.2
Jūratė Baltramiejūnaitė
Norvariatione for violin solo
Vytautas Barkauskas
Modus vivendi for violin, cello and piano
Sonata No.3
Algirdas Bružas
Summer Sketch for piano, violin and cello
Zita Bružaitė
„Sonnet IV“ for piano, violin and cello
Julius Gaidelis
Without Motherland, Spinner
Vytautas Germanavičius
„Nidamanngrieg Sonate“ for piano, violin and cello
Antanas Jasenka
„Melody“ for piano, violin and cello
Jurgis Juozapaitis
"Moonlight", piano trio
Solo contra tutti
Vytautas Jurgutis
Concerto for violin and chamber orchestra
Jurgis Karnavičius
Two capriccio for violin solo
Antanas Kučinskas
„Loop in D minor“
Bronius Kutavičius
"Stasys' Eight Miniatures" for flute, violin and viola
Sonata
Tomas Kutavičius
Triplum for violin, double bass, chamber orchestra and electronics
Faustas Latėnas
„Samba Lacrimarum“
Vytautas Laurušas
"Bird Market" for flute, violin and viola
Remigijus Merkelys
FlaVio for flute, violin and viola
Šarūnas Nakas
Dreamlike Venice, a Flaming Hurricane of Love, for soprano, bass, two actors and chamber orchestra
Onutė Narbutaitė
Winterserenade for flute, violin and viola
"The Eight-String" for violin and viola
Vytautas Paltanavičius
Piece
Donatas Prusevičius
Infinito for piano, violin and cello
Anatolijus Šenderovas
"Dialogues" for two violins
In memoriam J.Heifez for violin solo
Remigijus Šileika
Musica ricordanza for violin, cello and piano
Jonas Švedas
Sonata for violin and piano No.1
Mindaugas Urbaitis
Der Fall Wagner for flute, violin and viola
Bachvariationen for four violins
Chamber Works
Johann Sebastian Bach
Sonatas for violin and harpsichord, BWV 1014-1019
Johannes Brahms
Piano trio No.2 in C major, op.87
Claude Debussy
Trio for piano, violin and cello in G major, L.3
Antonin Dvorak
Dumki, piano trio No.4 in E minor, op.90
Dietrich Erdman
Trio for piano, violin and cello
Charles Halka
Trio for piano, violin and cello
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano trio No.6 in G major, K.564
Arvo Pärt
„Mozart-adagio“ (in memoriam Oleg Kagan) for piano, violin and cello
Jean-Philippe Rameau
Hippolyte et Aricie, siuite
Max Reger
Serenade for flute, violin and viola in G major, op.141a
Franz Schubert
Trio for piano, violin and cello in B flat major, op.99, D898
Dmitri Shostakovich
Trio for piano, violin and cello in E minor, op.67
Georg Philipp Telemann
Sonate polonaise in A minor for violin, viola and continuo
Joaquin Turina
„Circulo“, for piano, violin and cello op.91
Peteris Vasks
„Episodi e canto perpetuo“ (Hommage a O. Messiaen) for piano, violin and cello
Works for Violin and Orchestra
Johann Sebastian Bach
Violin Concerto No.2 in E major, BWV 1042
Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, BWV 1041
Alban Berg
Violin Concerto Dem Andenken eines Engels
Johannes Brahms
Violin Concerto in D major, op.77
Max Bruch
Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor, op.26
Ernest Chausson
Poem, op. 25
Alexander Glazunov
Violin Concerto in A minor, op.82
Édouard Lalo
The Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Op. 21
Felix Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto in E minor, op.64
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Violin Concerto No.3 in G major, K.216
Violin Concerto No.4 in D major, K.218
Violin Concerto No.5 in A major, K.219
Sinfonia Cncertante for violin, viola and orchestra in E flat major, K.364
Sergei Prokofiev
Violin Concerto No.1 in D major, op.19
Violin Concerto No.2 in G minor, op.63
Dmitri Shostakovich
Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor, op.77
Violin Concerto No.2, in C sharp minor, op.129
Jean Sibelius
Violin Concerto in D minor, op.47
Igor Stravinsky
Violin Concerto in D major
Giuseppe Tartini
Violin Sonata in G minor "Devil's Trill Sonata"
Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Violin Concerto in D major, op.35
Henri Vieuxtemps
Violin Concerto No.5 in A minor, op.37
Antonio Vivaldi
Four Seasons, op. 8
Works for Violin and Piano
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata No.3 in E flat major, op.12/3
Sonata No.4 in A minor, op.23
Sonata No.5 in F major op.24, Spring
Sonata No.7 in C minor, op.30/2, Eroica
Sonata No.9 in A major op.47, Kreutzer
Romance No.1 in G major, op.40
Romance No.2 in F major, op.50
Johannes Brahms
Sonata No.3 in D minor, op.108
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Tango
Ernest Chausson
Poeme, op.25 (arranged for violin and piano)
Claude Debussy
Sonata in G minor, L.140
Clair de lune (arranged for violin and piano)
La fille aux cheveux de lin (arranged for violin and piano)
Valse romantique
Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un faune (arranged for violin and piano)
Antonin Dvorak
Romantic Pieces, op.75
Manuel de Falla
Suite Populaire Espagnole (arranged for violin and piano)
Cesar Franck
Sonata in A major
Edvard Grieg
Sonata No.3 in C minor, op.45
Lou Harrison
Grand Duo
Gia Kancheli
Rag-Gidon-Time
Édouard Lalo
Symphonie espagnole, op.21
Felix Mendelssohn
Sonata in F major
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sonata No.26 in B flat major, K. 378
Niccolò Paganini
La Campanella violin concerto No.2 in B minor, op.7
Sergei Prokofiev
Sonata No.2 in A major, op.94 bis
Melodies, op.35 bis
Sonata for violin and piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80
Five pieces from the ballet Cinderella, Op. 87
Maurice Ravel
Pavane pour une infante défunte (arranged for violin and piano)
Valses nobles et sentimentales (arranged for violin and piano)
Pablo de Sarasate
Zigeunerweisen, op.20
Romanza Andalusa, op.22
Caprice basque, op.24
Alfred Schnitke
Sonata
Franz Schubert
Impromptu in G flat major, op.90/3, D. 899/3 (arranged for violin and piano)
Erwin Schulhoff
Sonata, op.7/1
Robert Schumann
Sonata No.1 in A minor, op.105
Rodion Shchedrin
A la Albeniz
Humoresque (arranged for violin and pino)
Dmitri Shostakovich
Ten Preludes, op.34
Sonata for violin and piano, Op. 134
Igor Stravinsky
Divertimento
Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Sérénade mélancolique in B minor, op.26
Franz Waxman
Carmen fantasy
Henryk Wieniawski
Légende in G minor, op.17
Eugène Ysaÿe
Poeme élégiaque in D minor, op.12
Concert at the Museum of Applied Art, December 13, 2009
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Sonata for violin and piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80; five excerpts from the ballet Cinderella
DMITRY SHOSTAKOVICH
Ten preludes (transcribed by Dmitry Tsyganov)
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Divertimento
LEONID DORFMAN (piano, Germany)
Concert at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, 21 12 2008
SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Sonata for violin and piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 80; Five pieces from the ballet Cinderella, Op. 87
DMITRY SHOSTAKOVICH
Sonata for violin and piano, Op. 134
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Divertimento (Lithuanian premiere)
INGRIDA ARMONAITĖ (violin)
LEONIDAS DORFMANAS (piano, Germany)
Concert in ”Vilnius Festival, Lithuanian National Philharmonic, 2006 06 17
Johann Sebastian Bach – "Brandenburg Concerto" in G major, No. 3, BWV 1048;
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, KV 216;
Šarūnas Nakas – "Dreamlike Venice, a Flaming Hurricane of Love" (world premiere)
VILNIUS FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA. Soloist: INGRIDA ARMONAITĖ (violin), IRENA ZELENKAUSKAITĖ (soprano), IGNAS MISIŪRA (baritone). Actors: ALDONA BENDORIŪTĖ, SAKALAS UŽDAVINYS. DAINIUS LIŠKEVIČIUS (video projection)
"…the Brahms D minor where she was quite ar one with her instrument. Here was a truly expressive reading, especially the second movement where the contours were well outlined and followed. Her dynamics were contrasted with an attractive pianissimo. Her instrument filled the hall with sound – here again was a strong, above-average competition instrument. The Ysaye "Ballade" showed such good bow and string contact and for this reason was an extraordinarily poweful performance."
Anne Inglis. "The Strad", 1985 April (V.Huml Violin Competition)
"One could say - here is one more musician, dedicated to her art with her whole soul, her whole self. She displays an admirably wonderful technique, the sound of her violin is rich, spacious, yielding (where the performer wants it to) to delicate nuances too."
Edmundas Gedgaudas. "Lietuvos rytas", 21 11 2000
"The impression of a reliable and mature performer is being created not only by the clearly stable violinist’s performing technique, but also by a developed interpretational feeling, a unique artistic taste and professional knowledge, which Armonaitė can daringly rely on and consistently form her stance of musical performance."
Vytautė Markeliūnienė. "7 meno dienos", November 24, 2000
"Many music critics have noted Ingrida’s respect to the musical context, the colours of the sound and the sense of form. It was in 1985, when the violinist performed the Sonata in d-minor by Brahms, when in the English magazine The Strand Anne Inglis emphasised the subtle timbre of sound that the performer can evoke, the attractive pianissimo and the ability to “merge” with the instrument during the performance. One should not forget her interpretation of sonatas for violin and clavichord by Bach, The First Sonata by Prokofiev or Concerto for violin and orchestra by Berg, admirable for its quality of sound and dynamic emotional amplitude."
Mykolas Jankūnas. "Muzikos barai", November, Vol. 11, 2000
"I could compare Prokofiev’s Sonata, performed by the violinist Ingrida Armonaitė, to a great and significant theatre premiere, prepared with care and dedication. Having revealed the sense of fullness in Prokofiev, Armonaitė should be really able to play this opus in any prestigious European festival."
Edmundas Gedgaudas. "Klaipėda", July, 2002
"An emotionally effective violinist, exceptional for her convincing manner of communication with the listeners, and the orchestra, both subtly responding to every interpretational highlight of S. Domarkas, have impressively rendered the opus of a Lithuanian composer, unknown to us, but, obviously, remarkable and unique (about Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 by E. Balsys."
L. Danielson. "Kultur & Noje", 11 10 2003 (Sweden, the 10th Festival of Music and Art from the Baltic Countries "Probaltica-2003")
