Gil Shaham - 1930s Violin Concertos, Vol. 2: Prokofiev, Bartók (2016)

This is the highly anticipated second volume in Gil Shaham's acclaimed 1930s Violin Concertos project. Volume 2 draws on two pillars of the violin concerto repertoire, Bartók and Prokofiev's second violin concertos. The CD release comes in a Deluxe Digipack with 24 page booklet, Claire Delamarche's annotations are in English and French, with exclusive photos from the recording sessions. Also available as MP3 and Hi-Res Audio.

Volume.1, released in 2014, met with wide acclaim from the critics, receiving EDITOR's Choice from Gramophone Magazine with La Croix in France noting 'A sound of angelic purity, masterful phrasing, a supremely elegant technique and a love of the music that transcends every bow stroke...'

The 1930s was a turbulent and unsettled decade, these 2 works offer some of the each respective composers' most lyrical and luminous music. The two concertos have played a central role in Gil's musical life for over 30 years; he first played the Prokofiev publicly with the Israel Sinfonietta on a tour of the USA when he was just 13 years old. Gil has recorded both works before, to much acclaim, but over time he explains, ''things grow in your head, the way you feel about the music changes''.

Shaham's 'trademark lyricism', 'effortless and natural playing' and 'impeccable technique' shouldn't leave the listener wanting on this new recording. The studio environment for the recording of the two concertos also affords Gil the luxury of the intimacy to be effectively shared with the listener, drawing them in from the outset.

In taking this 1930s project from a dream to reality, orchestras internationally have supported Gil's idea. After several years in the planning the project got underway in 2008/09 season with the Orchestre de Paris, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra to name but a few embracing the project and collaborating for performances of multiple concertos from a decade full of riches for the violin.