Berlin Phil's First Female Concertmaster Vineta Sareika Announces Resignation
Latvian violinist Vineta Sareika - the first-ever female concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic - announced Monday on Facebook that she will leave the orchestra, with her final concert in February 2025.
Violinist Vineta Sareika.
"After three enriching and exciting years with the Berlin Philharmonic I have made the decision to leave the orchestra," Sareika said. "It has been an honor for me to serve as its first-ever woman concertmaster and I am truly grateful for this unique life experience, fantastic concerts and inspiring encounters."
Sareika joined the Berlin Phil in May 2022 and was appointed First Concertmaster in March 2023. Before that, Sareika led the Artemis Quartet from 2012 until their dissolution in 2021. She has been a professor of chamber music at Berlin University of the Arts since 2017.
Besides Sareika-Völkner, the Berlin Philharmonic has several First Concertmasters, including Noah Bendix-Balgley and Daishin Kashimoto. Violinist Krzysztof Polonek holds the title of Concertmaster.
"One of the many valuable learnings during the past years however is that being part of this particular orchestra is not the path I'd like to continue on in the future," Sareika said. "I wish the orchestra the best of luck finding a fantastic new colleague for this position, I am at the same time looking forward to the next chapter of my personal musical journey."
You might also like:
- Interview: Vineta Sareika, the incredible richness of playing in a quartet
- Interview: Noah Bendix-Balgley, on Recording Jonathan Leshnoff's Violin Concerto No. 2
- Interview with Lisa Batiashvili: the Sibelius Violin Concerto, and Life's Path
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Replies
There is a story there, I’m quite sure of it.
Are we reading something in translation? Also what's with all the CMs.
@Paul: Her original statement on Facebook is in english, it‘s an exact quote
I find it outrageous that this is the first woman they've made concertmaster in their entire history. That may give us some idea as to the non-musical challenges she faced in that role.
I think it was very late in Karajan's tenure before the Berlin Phil had any women at all in the orchestra. What is the proportion of women now I wonder?
Guy, there is plenty of recent evidence in the form of clips on YouTube.
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September 11, 2024 at 12:30 AM · I can’t help but notice that she mentioned “this particular orchestra.” I wonder what is making her unhappy there. Wishing her all the best for her next step.