Triinu Piirsalu - Winner of the Estonian String Players Competition 2025 • Lossimuusika

Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 4 p.m.
Kuressaare Music School, Saaremaa

Palace Music New Year Concert

Triinu Piirsalu - violin
Winner of the Estonian String Players Competition 2025

Benjamin Arnika Skydsgaard - piano

Program:

Nicola Matteis (ca 1650 - after 1713)

Aires for the violin
   Prelude
   Passaggio rotto
   Andento veloce

Richard Strauss (1864–1949)
Violin Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18

   Allegro ma non troppo

   Improvisation: Andante cantabile
   Finale: Andante - Allegro  

Béla Bartók (1881–1945)
Rhapsody No. 1 for violin and piano Sz. 86 (1928) 
   Prima parte ("lassú") - Moderato   
   Seconda parte ("friss") - Allegretto moderato

The Palace Music Concert Series gives the outstanding laureate of the Estonian String Players Competition 2025 a special prize, which is a solo concert in the hall of the Kadriorg Palace. 

Competition information: https://eamt.ee/uritused/eesti-keelpillimangijate-konkurss-2025/

The Violin Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18 was written by Richard Strauss in 1887 and published in 1888. Although not considered a milestone in violin literature, it is frequently performed and recorded. It is noted for its lyrical beauty and its technical demands made on both violinist and pianist.
Following the completion of his Cello Sonata and Piano Sonata, Strauss composed his Violin Sonata in 1887. It was during this time that Strauss fell in love with Pauline de Ahna, the soprano whom he would later wed, and his amorous feelings can be heard throughout the piece.
Like all of his chamber music, Strauss' sonata follows standard classical form, though it is considered the last of his works to do so. The piece is in three movements, and takes approximately thirty minutes to perform:

The first movement opens with a brief piano solo, followed by lyrical violin interludes, through which the thematic material is presented. This movement follows typical sonata-allegro form, and although it begins in a melancholy tone, the movement ends jubilantly.

The second movement is unique in that it is an Improvisation; that is, the tranquil violin passages give the impression of improvisational material. This movement maintains a beautiful singing tone throughout, and ends meditatively. It is in ternary form.

The third and final movement begins with a slow, meditative piano introduction which then leads into an exuberant Allegro. After a rush of virtuosic passages from both performers, the sonata comes to an explosive end.

Triinu Piirsalu is one of the most outstanding Estonian violinists of her generation, having received widespread recognition both at home and abroad. She is a soloist with an emotional and compelling performance style and a passionate chamber musician. In autumn 2023, Triinu began her master’s studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich in the violin class of Professor Mi-kyung Lee, while also pursuing a soloist diploma at the Royal Danish Academy of Music under the guidance of Professor Peter Herresthal.

Triinu has participated in numerous national and international competitions. In April 2023, she was selected, alongside four other outstanding young Norwegian musicians, by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra to perform as a soloist at their traditional concert De Unges Konsert. This opportunity was accompanied by the Grieg Foundation Award and a solo performance with the orchestra (Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2).

In November 2020, she was awarded third prize and a special prize from the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra at the Estonian String Players’ Competition. In autumn 2020, she achieved second place in the televised competition Klassikatähed and was also the audience favourite.

At the beginning of 2024, Triinu Piirsalu received the Young Musician Award from the Hansa Group Fund. She began her violin studies at Tallinn Music School under Katrin Talmar and continued at Tallinn Music High School under the guidance of Tiiu Peäske.

In 2019, she began her bachelor’s studies at the Sibelius Academy in the violin class of Professor Réka Szilvay. During her years in Helsinki, Triinu developed a growing interest in the folk music of different countries. During her exchange year in Norway (2022/2023), she also took up playing the Hardanger fiddle.

She has a strong artistic collaboration and friendship with Aavik Duo, with whom she has performed new works written specifically for their ensemble by Estonian composers such as Tõnu Kõrvits, Peeter Vähi, and Liis Jürgenson. Triinu plays in various chamber ensembles and is also a member of the Estonian Festival Orchestra.

She plays a violin made by M. Deconet in 1760.