Avi Avital
Mandolin
The New York Times, Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, March 12th, 2015
- Biography
- Images
- Programme
- Schedule
- Discography
- Videos
- Links
- Contact
Biography
Download Biography: Gramophone
”New York Times • Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim • March 12th, 2015
Avital collaborates with musicians across many genres including Ksenija Sidorova, Giovanni Sollima, Mahan Esfahani, Kristian Bezuidenhout, Alice Sara Ott, Andreas Scholl, Dover Quartet, Danish String Quartet, Brooklyn Rider, Omer Klein, Omer Avital, actress Martina Gedeck and Georgian puppet theatre, Budrugana Gagra. His versatility has led to features as “Portrait Artist” at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, BOZAR in Brussels and the Dortmund Konzerthaus (Zeitinsel) and he is a regular presence at major festivals such as Aspen, Salzburg, Tanglewood, Spoleto, Ravenna, MISA Shanghai, Cheltenham, Verbier and Tsinandali.
An exclusive Deutsche Grammophone artist, his sixth album for the label “The Art of the Mandolin” has been received with high praise and top reviews in The Times, Independent, Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine as well as the international press. This follows recordings of solo Bach (2019), Avital meets Avital (2017) with oud/bassist Omer Avital, ECHO Klassik Award winning Vivaldi (2015), an album of Avital’s own transcriptions of Bach concertos and Between Worlds (2014), a cross-generic chamber collection exploring the nexus between classical and traditional music.
Born in Be’er Sheva in southern Israel, Avital began learning the mandolin at the age of eight and soon joined the flourishing mandolin youth orchestra founded and directed by his charismatic teacher, Russian-born violinist Simcha Nathanson. He studied at the Jerusalem Music Academy and the Conservatorio Cesare Pollini in Padua with Ugo Orlandi. Winner of Israel’s prestigious Aviv Competition in 2007, Avital is the first mandolinist in the history of the competition to be so honoured. He plays on a mandolin made by Israeli luthier Arik Kerman.
2021 / 2022
Images
Programme
Sollima: Prelude
Bach: Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001
Bach: Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
Avital: Kedma for retuned Mandolin (2006)
with Olga Pashchenko (Harpsichord)
Scarlatti: Sonata for Mandolin and Basso continuo G major, K 91
Valentini: Sonata for Mandolin and Basso continuo in A minor
Beethoven: Andante con variazioni for Mandolin and Fortepiano D major, WoO 44/2
Vivaldi: Sonata for Mandolin and Basso continuo in C major, F.XVI
Bach: Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
Bach: Sonata for Flute and obbligato Harpsichord in E minor, BWV 1034
with Omer Klein (Jazz Piano)
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Jazz compositions by Omer Klein, Israeli songs and improvisations – music is made here without boundaries…
with Ksenija Sidorova (Accordion)
Kreisler: Prelude and Allegro – in the style of Gaetano Pugnani
Mozart: Sonata No. 21 in E minor KV 304 (original for Violin and Piano)
Stravinsky: Suite Italienne from “Pulcinella” (original for Violoncello and Piano)
***
Villa-Lobos: Bachiana Brasilieras No. 5 / Aria
de Falla: Siete canciones populares españolas
Bartók: Romanian folk dances
Budashkin: Concerto for Mandolin in A minor
with Maurice Steger, David Bergmüller, Hille Perl & Sebastian Wienand
Bach: from “Piano booklet for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach”
Bach: from “Music booklet for Anna Magdalena Bach”
The long and versatile history of the mandolin makes it the perfect companion on this world tour. Like a chameleon, its tonal characteristics allow it to take on the sound of the most diverse regions.
The individual projects of the Between Worlds Ensemble concentrate on one geographical region at a time. In the process, completely new arrangements lead the music back to its traditional roots.
This interaction between musical cultures reveals similarities as well as differences – and can thus also become a springboard for panel discussions and educational projects: The audience is invited to reconsider their own understanding of borders, and perhaps to question whether they exist at all.
Between Worlds Ensemble is a project that will span two years with three programmes per season. In 2022 / 2023 these are Iberia, Black Sea, Italy.
Schedule
19:30 Uhr
Discography
Zamzama
Lonely Girl
Ana Maghrebi
Ballad For Eli
Maroc
Hijazain
Avi Avital
Avi's Song
Prelude
Moshe Wilenski
The Source And The Sea (Balada Al Maayan Ve`Yam)
Omer Avital - Double bass, Oud
Jonathan Avishai - Piano
Itamar Doari - Percussion
Concerto in A minor, RV 356
Concerto in D major, RV 93
Mandolin Concerto in C major, RV 425
Largo from Concerto in C major, RV 443
Trio Sonata in C major, RV 82
Concerto in G minor, RV 315, "Summer" from "The Four Seasons"
Juan Diego Florez - Tenor
Mahan Esfahani - Harpsichord
Ophira Zakai - Lute
Patrick Sepec - Cello
Venice Baroque Orchestra
Tsintsadze: Sachidao; Miniatures on Georgian Folk Themes
Bartók: 6 Romanian Dances
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5
Piazzolla: Fugy y misterio
Falla: Siete canciones populares espanolas
Monti: Csardas
Bloch: Nigun from Baal Shem
Chaim: Freilach Ron (klezmer improvisation)
Dvorak: Vivace ma non troppo from String Quartet No. 12
Traditionals: Bucimis; Hen Ferchetan
Richard Galliano - Accordion
Giora Feidman - Clarinet
Concerto for Mandolin and Strings BWV 1041, 1052, 1056
Sonata BWV 1034 for Mandolin and Basso Continuo
Kammerakademie Potsdam
Videos
Links
Official Website
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube
TwitterContact
f: +49 (0)30 414 781 713
