Rolf Gupta: Epilogue from *Earth's Song*
Anders Hillborg: Violin Concerto No. 2
Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
Nil Venditti, conductor
Ava Bahari, violin
Nil Venditti is an Italian-Turkish conductor with an active international profile. She works regularly with Royal Northern Sinfonia, where she is Principal Guest Conductor, and has conducted ensembles including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
She has also appeared at festivals such as the BBC Proms and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. Venditti works across both symphonic and operatic repertoire.
She studied conducting at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste with Johannes Schlaefli and took part in the Conducting Academy associated with the Pärnu Music Festival. She also holds a cello degree from Italy, where she studied with Francesco Pepicelli.
Described by The Strad as “a notable emerging talent”, Swedish violinist Ava Bahari has gained recognition for her distinctive artistry and wide-ranging repertoire. She has received major awards, including top prizes at the Premio Paganini Competition in Genova, Concours International Tibor Varga in Sion and Aurora Music Competition in Stockholm.
Bahari has appeared with orchestras such as Gothenburg Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Malmö Symfoniorkester, Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra and Teatro Carlo Felice Genova. She has collaborated with conductors including Pekka Kuusisto, Andrew Manze, Tabita Berglund, Vasily Petrenko, Jaime Martín and James MacMillan.
As a chamber musician, she has performed at festivals such as Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and Santander Music Festival, and has appeared alongside artists including Kirill Gerstein, Daniel Hope, Adrien La Marca and Camille Thomas. Notable recital venues include the Seoul Arts Center, Konzerthaus Berlin and Museo del Violino in Cremona.
Bahari completed her Konzertexamen at Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin after studies with Kolja Blacher, and holds additional training from the Accademia Stauffer in Cremona.
She plays an Antonio Stradivarius violin made in Cremona in 1694, on loan from the Anders Sveaas’ Almennyttige Fond (ASAF).
