Alexander Sitkovetsky

Alexander Sitkovetsky

Violin

Artistic Director of NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra

“Sitkovetsky treated us to all the grace and spaciousness that I could have wished for.”
— Bachtrack (David Karlin)

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Lorna Neill

+44 (0) 7798 531 819
lorna@musicinteralia.com

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Reviews Archive

“Animated and enthusiastic, Sitkovetsky danced around the stage throughout the performance of Vivaldi’s concerti, digging into his solo lines and playing along with the orchestra when the solo line was tacet. His impressive ability to play the quickest passages cleanly and smoothly was second only to his delicate and thoughtful treatment of the slower passages.”

The Capital Times (Matt Ambrosio), January 2023 (Concert Review of ‘The Four Seasons’ with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra)

“During the cadenza of the “Otoño” (“Autumn”) movement, the soloist made ample use of the violin’s full range and, for an extended moment, rendered sweet the very highest register of the instrument. Then in the “Invierno” (“Winter”) movement, Sitkovetsky charged the nearly romantic melody with penetrating energy that cut through the concert hall. Displaying a unique mastery of extended techniques and a keen sense of rhythm, Sitkovetsky’s performance was extraordinary.”

The Capital Times (Matt Ambrosio), January 2023 (Concert Review of ‘The Four Seasons’ with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra)

“Although the Finale, with its virtuosic double-stopping and the taut springiness of the rhythms added to the scampering sense of fun, it was the central Romance which impressed me most of all. The solo line was always well integrated in the overall orchestral sound, never drawing unnecessary attention to itself, and in the many high-lying passages Sitkovetsky seemed to be floating into the stratosphere, his intensely singing quality recalling the composer’s assertion that this work was contemplated for a Caruso of the violin rather than for a Paganini.”

Bachtrack (Alexander Hall), October 2022 (Concert Review for ‘From Moravia with love’: the Brno Philharmonic at Cadogan Hall)

“The most beautiful moments happened in the slow movement, in which the Russian (Alexander Sitkovetsky) seemed to make time stand still without over-stretching it. Together with the effervescent woodwinds he allowed (the music) to radiate with brilliance. It was music, that was almost on a higher plane.”

Mitteldeutsche Zeitung (Johannes Killyen), October 2018

“Violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, like his accompanists, displayed an admirable technical facility and to this he added an incredibly clear sound blessed with a lovely silky sheen. Once more like the Tonkünstler, Sitkovetskyʼs power and projection were striking – I donʼt think Iʼve ever heard the harmonics in the first movement cadenza ring so loud, full and true.”

Seen & Heard (Claire Seymour), March 2017
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Op.64 with the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra

“Sitkovetsky harks back to an older tradition of violin playing not often heard these days.”

-The Washington Post (Patrick Rucker), December 2016
Recital at the Phillips Collection

“..and thatʼs just exactly where a mischief breaks though, the same way that Liebreich had previously hinted at in the miniatures "Arbor Cosmica". The Russian-British soloist Alexander Sitkovetsky picks that up with a heightened and always keenly direct sound, especially in the third movement where the wild position changes of the solo part soar above the jocular hurricane of pizzicato of the orchestra –a final clear chord sounding the end of the storm. Liebreich beams, the orchestra smiles, and the audience is rapturous.”

Süddeutsche Zeitung (Rita Argauer), March 2016

“An incredible performance of Brahms C minor piano quartet closed the programme; the instruments kept a perfect balance with all artists notching up the volume at the right moments to bring alive Brahms' oscillating piece.”

–Papiruszportal.hu (Szabo Ildiko), 2015

“Sitkovetsky astonishes with his dazzling playing in the duos.”

–Fanfare (Jerry Dubins), 2015

“Right from the start, Mr Sitkovetsky was inspired. His playing soared above the orchestra with a skill and clarity that was truly beautiful, and his total engagement with the music and the performance shone out. (..) He received a well-deserved standing ovation. I look forward to his next visit.”

–On the Wight (Jonathan Dodd), 2015

“(..) Halvorsen's virtuoso reworking of a Handel Passacaglia (..) was brilliantly played, Sitkovetsky and Rysanov both completly on fire as they imbued this Paganini-esque showpiece with split-second timing, quirky spontaneity, and raw, rustic humour.”

–The Scotsman (Ken Walton), 2015

“Mr. Sitkovetsky and Ms. Qian brought out all of the folksy dance-like rhythms. It is always a good sign when everyone in the audience seems to be tapping their feet or bobbing their head. The back and forth between the instruments was lovely, as was watching their shadows move on the back of the hall. They brought Grieg's colors to life, making every phrase ring. To hear such lush music in a small space was a treat.”

–Scoresby – Oberon's Grove, 2017

 

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Biography

Born in Moscow, Alexander comes from a family with a well-established musical tradition. At the age of eight, he made his concerto debut, and the same year, he moved to the UK to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School where he is now an Associate Artist. Both as a soloist, a director, and a chamber musician, he has received several awards, including the 1st prize at the 2011 Trio di Trieste Duo Competition, performing with pianist Wu Qian with whom he regularly performs. Since 2023, he has been Artistic Director of the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Wrocław. 

Alexander began his 2025/26 season with the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in a residency at the Edinburgh International Festival, where they were joined for one concert by festival director Nicola Benedetti. Additional highlights of the early season are his four performances with the Budapest Festival Orchestra Haydn’s Violin Concerto no. 3 under the baton of Gábor Takács-Nagy), as well as another re-invitation to the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, performing the Mendelssohn violin concerto with Samuel Lee. In November, he tours with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, with performances in California, Illinois, Virginia, and New York. During the holiday season, he debuts with the Enescu Philharmonic and later directs Camerata Salzburg in a series of New Year’s concerts in both Salzburg and Lucerne. Alexander is also re-invited to direct the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, another orchestra where Alexander has a close relationship. 

As Artistic Director, his many performances with the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra in Wrocław this season include collaborations with guest artists including Pablo Ferrández, Kian Soltani, and Jan Vogler. 

With the award-winning Sitkovetsky Trio, of which Alexander is a founding member, he returns to London’s Wigmore Hall in the spring and tours the UK. The trio also returns to Vienna, Brussels, Weimar, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Oulu, Warsaw, Wrocław, and the Schubertiade in Hohenems, and undertake tours to North and South America and Australia.

Last season saw a concert with the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Iván Fischer, promoting world peace by featuring performers from Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine. Alexander directed the Camerata Salzburg, the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta in an homage to Yehudi Menuhin. As a soloist, he toured the UK with the Prague Symphony Orchestra and Tomáš Brauner. Other highlights included performances around Hungary with the Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra alongside Maxim Rysanov playing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola, and a debut at the Bulgarian March Music Days Rousse Festival with the Orchestra of the State Opera Ruse. The Sitkovetsky Trio began their cycle as Ensemble in Residence at the Beethovenfest Bonn in September 2024, premiering a new concerto by Ferran Cruixent alongside their focus on the complete Beethoven piano trios.

An established soloist in the UK, Alexander has performed with London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Hallé Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Welsh National Opera Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, English Symphony Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin’s in the Fields. 

Other concerto highlights include performances with Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra, Camerata Novi Sad, Romanian Sinfonietta, Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Detmold Chamber Orchestra, Tonkünstler Orchester Vienna, Camerata Zürich, Residentie Orkest Den Hague, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic, National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and European Union Chamber Orchestra. Outside of Europe, he has performed with Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta Filarmónica de Bolivia, Moscow Symphony Orchestra, St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra, Russian Philharmonic Novosibirsk, and in the US he has performed orchestras including Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, New York Chamber Players, and Chattanooga Symphony. 

As a chamber musician, Alexander has performed at Verbier Festival, Stavanger Festival, and Schubertiade Festival. The Sitkovetsky Trio won the BBC Music Magazine award for Chamber Music in 2022. In 2024, they premiered Lena Sierova’s trio, Bucha, which they commissioned. The Sitkovetsky Trio were Ensemble in Residence at the Beethovenfest Bonn in September 2024, premiering a new concerto by Ferran Cruixent, and they had a focus on the complete Beethoven piano trios throughout the season. Alexander is also a permanent member of the Julia Fischer String Quartet. 

His recordings have won great critical acclaim, notably his 2018 Chandos recording of Philip Sawyers’s Violin Concerto with the English Symphony, and a CPO recording of Andrzej Panufnik's Violin Concerto with the Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin to commemorate the composer's 100th birthday, which won an ICMA Special Achievement Award. 

Alexander studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and later at the Kronberg Academy in Germany. He plays the 1679 ‘Parera’ Antonio Stradivari violin, kindly loaned to him through the Beare’s International Violin Society by a generous sponsor. 

 
William BurtonViolin