Romanian Violinist Mariana Sîrbu has Died

Also a celebrated pedagogue, Sîrbu was the first violinist of the Quartetto Stradivari and leader of Italy’s I Musici ensemble

Born in Romania into a family of music lovers, Mariana Sîrbu studied violin at the Bucharest Academy of Music in the class of Stefan Gheorghiu.

Beginning her concert career from an early age, she was a prizewinner at the George Enescu, Carl Flesch, Maria Canals, and the Vittorio Gui International Violin Competitions across Europe.

As a soloist, she performed in venues including Milan’s La Scala, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Lincoln Center, Teatro Colon Buenos Aires, Berlin’s Philharmonie, Sydney Opera House, Musikverein Wiena, and Suntory Hall, among others. 

In 1968, Sîrbu founded and led the Quartetto Academica, which performed on international tours following wins at major competitions in Liege, Munich, Geneva, and Belgrade between 1972 and 1975.

The leader and soloist of Italy’s I Musici string ensemble from 1992, she was also the founding member and first violinist of the Quartetto Stradivari. In 1985, Sîrbu joined pianist Bruno Canino and cellist Rocco Filippini in Trio di Milano, which toured Europe, America, Canada, and Australia. 

Additionally, she was broadcast on international radio and TV networks, and recorded for Philips, Dynamic, Schwann-Harmonia Mundi, Decca, and UNICEF. Among Sîrbu’s collaborators were Salvatore Accardo, Bruno Giuranna, and Michele Campanella.

As an educator, she gave regular masterclasses in Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Spain, Germany, Holland, China, and France, among others. From 2002 to 2018 she succeeded Corrado Romano in teaching the Sermoneta instrumental specialization courses at the Pontino Music Festival.

“[A] magnificent violinist [and] loved by the Pontino audience, [Sîrbu] has nurtured generations of students from all parts of the world, launching them successfully into concert careers,” the Fondazione Campus Internazionale di Musica di Latina wrote on Facebook. “A generous, sensitive artist. We will miss her music, but we will miss her grace even more.”

Our condolences to Ms. Sîrbu’s family, friends, students, and colleagues.