Violinist Alina Ibragimova Releases Telemann’s Fantasias 

Released on Hyperion records, Ibragimova performs G.P. Telemann’s Fantasias Nos. 1 to 12 for solo violin

This new album is one of over 20 that Russian-British violinist Alina Ibragimova has released with Hyperion records. This is her fourth album of unaccompanied repertoire following her releases of Bach, Ysaÿe and Paganini’s works.

Written between 1732 and 1736, Telemann’s Fantasias for solo violin were part of four sets also written for solo flute, keyboard, and viola da gamba. Like many composers during the 18th century, Telemann owned a self-publishing house to promote and sell his own works. 

While Telemann wrote many works for professionals, he made higher profits selling popular works for amateur artists — it was for this demographic the fantasias were written.

For this Telemann recording, Ibragimova played a 1570 Andrea Amati violin with gut strings and a baroque bow.

Performing on both historical and modern instruments, as a soloist and in chamber settings, Ibragimova is a founding member of the Chiaroscuro Quartet, which is devoted to historical performance. Her long-standing chamber music partners include pianists Cédric Tiberghien and Kristian Bezuidenhout.

A graduate of the Moscow Gnesin School, the Yehudi Menuhin School, and the Royal College of Music, Ibragimova studied with Natasha Boyarsky, Gordan Nikolitch, and Christian Tetzlaff. 

Her accolades include the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award 2010, 2008 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, and 2009 Classical BRIT and Young Performer of the Year Award. She is an alum of the BBC New Generation Artists Scheme and was made an MBE in 2016. An acclaimed recording artist, her 2021 album of Paganini’s 24 Caprices topped the classical album charts upon its release.

Ibragimova performs on a c.1775 Anselmo Bellosio violin, kindly provided by Georg von Opel.

To purchase and listen to the album, click here.