Accordion Star Ksenija Sidorova

Described by Seen and Heard International as “one of the most charismatic soloists you could possibly see”, Ksenija Sidorova will perform in Lithuania this autumn. The world-renowned accordionist will appear with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, performing a new Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra specially composed for her this year by celebrated pianist and composer Fazıl Say. The work will receive its Lithuanian premiere on November 6 at the LVSO Concert Hall. The concert is organised by „Vilniaus festivaliai“.

Ksenija Sidorova is regarded as one of the world’s leading ambassadors of the classical accordion. Critics praise her for her “energy, style, presence and impeccable virtuosity” (ZealNYC), while The Telegraph has described her performances as “revealing new meanings in music”. In every performance, she combines exceptional technical mastery with profound musical expression.

Born in Riga, the celebrated Latvian virtuoso began playing the accordion at the age of six, inspired by her grandmother. She later graduated from the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London and now performs with some of the world’s finest ensembles.

Her 2025–2026 season has been particularly impressive, highlighted by performances with Paavo Järvi and three orchestras he conducted – the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich. Last year, Sidorova also performed at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Beethoven-Haus Bonn, Vienna’s Konzerthaus, and gave a recital at New York’s legendary Carnegie Hall.

Alongside her remarkable solo career, Sidorova is highly regarded as a chamber musician. Her artistic partners have included mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital, violinist Nicola Benedetti, baritone Benjamin Appl, the Goldmund Quartet, guitarist Miloš Karadaglić, violinist Nemanja Radulović, clarinettist Andreas Ottensamer, trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth, tenor Juan Diego Flórez and many other acclaimed artists.

The accordion virtuoso’s repertoire spans more than three centuries of music – from transcriptions of works by Baroque master Johann Sebastian Bach to the tango revolution of Astor Piazzolla and works by leading contemporary composers. Sidorova actively promotes contemporary music and continually expands the accordion repertoire by commissioning new works. An ever-growing number of compositions have been dedicated to her by composers including Tõnu Kõrvits, Artūrs Maskats, Sergey Akhunov, Dobrinka Tabakova and others.

Her latest premiere is the Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra specially composed for her by renowned pianist and composer Fazıl Say. Its world premiere took place only a few days ago, on July 4, at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in Germany. Vilnius audiences will have the opportunity to hear the work this autumn.

In this concerto, Fazıl Say turns his attention to an instrument that has long been considered peripheral within the classical concert tradition, while also embodying extraordinary cultural diversity. The accordion becomes a bridge between folk music, tango, klezmer and contemporary composition, creating a complex and richly layered world of sound.