American Violin Concertos

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Shapira's rich tonal variety is amply displayed ina ll three works, everything well recorded. Even though the pace in Barber's slow movement is set by his favourite instrument, the oboe, Shapira... — Gramophone Magazine, March 2013 More…

Release Date: 3rd Sep 2012
Catalogue No: CHRCD043
Label: Champs Hill Records
Length: 78 minutes

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Menotti: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in A Minor

Work length30:25

$5.00

$7.00

Ittai Shapira
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra
Thomas Sanderling

Allegro moderato

Track length13:49

$2.00

$2.80

Adagio

Track length8:38

$1.50

$2.10

Allegro vivace

Track length7:58

$1.50

$2.10

Wiprud: Violin Concerto 'Katrina'

Work length24:32

$4.50

$6.30

Ittai Shapira
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Neil Thomson

Les Bons Temps

Track length11:34

$2.00

$2.80

Acadiana

Track length5:13

$1.00

$1.40

Fly Away

Track length7:45

$1.50

$2.10

Barber: Violin Concerto, Op. 14

Work length23:57

$4.00

$5.60

Ittai Shapira
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra
Thomas Sanderling

Allegro

Track length10:56

$1.50

$2.10

Andante

Track length8:39

$1.50

$2.10

Presto con moto perpetuoso

Track length4:22

$1.00

$1.40

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About

Israeli virtuoso violinist Ittai Shapira is a distinguished performer and composer - the recent disc of performances of his own compositions on Champs Hill Records (“The Old Man and the Sea” CHRCD032) demonstrates this admirably.

Ittai Shapira’s 'American Violin Concertos' disc brings together three diverse concertos whose composers have in common a vivid and expressive writing style for violin and orchestra.

Italian-American composer Menotti wrote his violin concerto as a tribute to his former teacher, the Russian-born violinist Efrem Zimbalist. He managed to capture Zimbalist’s character as a violinist, ‘noble, fine-grained, never extrovert’, in this work without inhibiting the need for display in a concerto. The virtuosity of the violin is tempered by the overall tone, which is enigmatic and intimate, with lyrical, singing lines for the soloist.

Barber’s Violin Concerto was originally commissioned in early 1939 by the affluent soap manufacturer Samual Fels to be performed by Fel’s adopted son Iso Briselli. Although Briselli claimed that the first two movements were ‘too simple, not brilliant enough’ he inevitably found the finale too taxing and the commission was withdrawn.

Barber’s Violin Concerto was finally premiered in 1941 by Albert Spalding, with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy, and critics hailed it for being ‘refreshingly free from arbitrary tricks and musical mannerisms’ with ‘straightforwardness and sincerity being among its most engaging qualities’. Since then it has become a favourite 20th century work for the instrument.

In its world-premiere recording, Washington born composer Theodore Wiprud’s Violin concerto ‘Katrina’ was written for Ittai Shapira. This work is Wiprud’s first concerto for a solo instrument with orchestra, and reflects not only the devastation and destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina but a hopeful undercurrent, with emphasis on the varied and deeply felt musical life of the whole Delta. ‘Katrina’ explores the power and importance of music in times of struggle.

Reviews

March 2013

Shapira's rich tonal variety is amply displayed ina ll three works, everything well recorded. Even though the pace in Barber's slow movement is set by his favourite instrument, the oboe, Shapira takes admirable command in this vintage Barber - and the finale is stunning.

10th September 2013

this is a strong, solid performance [of the Barber] by Shapira, electric indeed in the finale...a nigh-on irresistible way to experience the thaumaturgy of violin-with-orchestra.

30th September 2012

The style [of the Wiprud] is eclectic — nods to Adams, Ligeti and (obviously) New Orleans jazz — and the piece is pictorially vivid...Shapira’s playing is electrifying.

American Violin Concertos

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