Last weekend, on June 9 and 10, young violinist Emilia von Albertini from the Zakhar Bron Violin School performed two sold-out solo concerts with the Thalwil Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Kevin Griffits. The concerts, held in the Swiss towns of Thalwil and Horgen (Canton Zurich), captivated audiences with her rendition of Bruch's Violin Concerto in G minor.
For Emilia, these two days in June were truly unforgettable: they marked her very first performances on stage with a symphony orchestra. Not just one performance, but two on consecutive days — a remarkable challenge even for a professional musician. And yet, Emilia, a young violinist from the Zakhar Bron Violin School in Zurich, is only 10 years old.
What made these concerts even more special was the fact that both were completely sold out. Performing before packed halls requires exceptional focus and concentration, as every note must be flawless. To appreciate the difficulty, imagine playing nearly a thousand notes perfectly — and doing it twice in a row!
Despite the nerves, everything went smoothly. Both concerts attracted a full and enthusiastic audience, who gave Emilia and the orchestra prolonged ovations.
This concert was a significant event in her life but also held great importance for the orchestra’s musicians, most of whom are amateur players. They had never performed with such a young soloist before, and they were deeply moved, doing their utmost to support the talented violinist.
The young Swiss conductor, born in London and a third-generation musician in his family, provided Emilia with invaluable support. His father, Howard Griffits, conducted the Zurich Chamber Orchestra for many years, continuing the family’s rich musical legacy.
After the concert, the orchestra presented Emilia with the sheet music for Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Emilia warmly promised to perform it with the Thalwil Symphony once she grows older and masters the piece!
Max Bruch’s ‘Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor’ is one of the first serious concertos performed after children’s pieces; it marks the transition to a youth-level concerto. It is a work played by all major soloists with orchestras, including artists of the caliber of Maxim Vengerov and others.
The concert is a Romantic masterpiece, celebrated for its lyrical melodies, emotional depth, and virtuosic demands. It features three movements: a dramatic prelude, a heartfelt Adagio, and an energetic finale. Therefore, the preparation for the concerts with the orchestra was very important.
Together with Liana Tretyakova, her violin teacher at the Zakhar Bron Violin School in Zurich, Emilia practiced violin for two hours every day – on some weeks, including weekends. The preparation was very intense, but the effort paid off as the concert audience enthusiastically appreciated the results.
Emilia’s achievement didn’t go unnoticed. The local newspaper Zürichsee Zeitung published a glowing review titled A Violin Prodigy, highlighting her extraordinary talent:
‘Emilia von Albertini from Herrliberg and the Horgen-Thalwil Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Kevin Griffiths have found each other. For only a short time, the ten-year-old violinist seemed delicate and inconspicuous during orchestra rehearsals. But as soon as she began to play her violin, the talent of the young musician — who has roots in Ukraine on her mother’s side and does not come from a musical family — became immediately apparent.’
Emilia’s debut was not only a personal achievement but also an inspiration to everyone who watched her. It was an important moment for the Zakhar Bron Violin School as well, as these were the first performances by one of our students with a symphony orchestra. We are very pleased that both concerts were successful, with a full house, a warm atmosphere, and an audience that truly appreciated our young violinist’s talent.