Achron: Music for Violin and Piano Michael Ludwig & Alison D'Amato

• 1 Hebrew Melody, Op. 33 (version for violin and piano) 05:49
• 2 No. 1. Hebrew Dance 07:02
• 3 No. 2. Hebrew Lullaby 03:02
• 4 Prelude, Op. 13 03:45
• 5 Les Sylphides, Op. 18 03:54
• 6 No. 1 in D Minor 02:31
• 7 No. 2 in B Minor 04:05
• 8 No. 1 in G Minor 03:58
• 9 No. 2 in B Major 01:56
• 10 Dance Improvisation, Op. 37 03:24
• 11 I. Prelude 02:36
• 12 II. Gavotte 04:11
• 13 III. Sicilienne 03:45
• 14 IV. Fughetta 01:26
• 15 V. Gigue 03:03
• 16 La Romanesca 03:51
• 17 I. Stempenyu Plays 01:56
• 18 II. Sher (Dance) 01:35
• 19 III. Freylekhs (Dance) 03:17
• 20 Berceuse, Op. 20 04:19
• Total Runtime 01:09:25

Info for Achron: Music for Violin and Piano

Joseph Achron was a child prodigy as a violinist, and despite great success as a composer he considered himself a performer for most of his life. His most famous composition is the intense and dramatic Hebrew Melody, but the riches in this programme range from the deeply passionate early Prelude, the spirit of dance in Les Sylphides, the various moods of the Stimmungen and the theatrical Stempenyu, speculated to be the inspiration for Marc Chagall’s famous painting of a fiddler on the roof. Achron’s remarkable music fell into obscurity, but its recent revival includes a recording of his First Violin Concerto available on Naxos 8559408.

Michael Ludwig, violin
Alison d’Amato, piano

Michael Ludwig
Hailed by Strad Magazine for his “effortless, envy-provoking technique… sweet tone, brilliant expression, and grand style”, Michael Ludwig enjoys a multi-faceted career as a soloist, recording artist, and chamber musician. A highly sought-after soloist, he has performed on four continents, including appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Pops, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, collaborating with such conductors as JoAnn Falletta, Sir Georg Solti, and John Williams among others.

Recent highlights include performances in Germany, Spain, Poland, China, Korea, and Israel, as well as numerous appearances throughout the United States. Composer Daron Hagen has written a new violin concerto, American Songbook, for Michael Ludwig, which Ludwig will premiere with the Buffalo Philharmonic in May 2011. According to Hagen, “Michael is a superb, world-class musician and the perfect person to premiere this concerto.” This season marks the release of Ludwig's live recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto and Dvorak Romance with the Virginia Symphony, as well as a NAXOS recording of the Josef Suk Fantasy with the Buffalo Philharmonic. In August of 2011, Ludwig recorded Kenneth Fuchs' American Rhapsody with the London Symphony Orchestra in the famed Abbey Roads Studios.

Ludwig's discography has drawn critical acclaim from both sides of the Atlantic. Fanfare magazine writes: "His phrasing is so sensitive--it could serve as an object lesson to every budding violinist." And BBC Music Magazine praises his "persuasive playing, silky tone, sensitivity to colour and flair for 'golden-age' style." His recording of the rarely performed Dohnanyi Violin Concertos with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra has received extraordinary reviews worldwide, and has revived interest in these neglected romantic works. Ludwig's recording of the Corigliano Red Violin Concerto with JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic is "hot, sharp, and close to the edge" writes critic Norman Lebrecht. This Grammy-nominated recording hit the Billboard Top 100 within the first week of its release. Other recordings include the Beethoven Triple Concerto with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and the Bruch Scottish Fantasy with the Virginia Symphony.

As a chamber musician, he has shared the stage with numerous acclaimed artists, such as Christoph Eschenbach, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Yefim Bronfman, Sarah Chang, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. His recording of the world premiere of Marcel Tyberg's Piano Trio in F Major was released by NAXOS in August 2010. His chamber music performances include appearances at the Prague Spring Music Festival, New Hampshire Music Festival, and a benefit appearance for the Terezin Music Foundation at Symphony Hall in Boston. For further information, please visit: www.MichaelLudwig.com.

Alison d'Amato
is a dynamic and versatile musician, committed to performing and teaching in the full spectrum of solo and chamber music genres. A member of several pioneering organizations, she is Artistic Co-Director of Florestan Recital Project (www.florestanproject.org) and co-founder of the Vancouver International Song Institute (VISI, www.songinstitute.ca). In 2011, she joined the faculty at Eastman School of Music as Assistant Professor of Vocal Coaching. In all these activities, Alison is dedicated to energizing the relationships and communication inherent in music and bringing students’ love of music to the forefront of their projects.

Alison enjoys a variety of interdisciplinary projects with musicologists, composers, writers, and dancers. Alison is co-creator of the 2011 Art Song Lab, a new partnership between VISI and the Canadian Music Centre (Vancouver) that presents new works in collaboration with composers, poets, and performers. Alison has been a guest artist at numerous schools including The American University in Bulgaria, University of Toronto, Tufts University, Royal Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, SUNY Fredonia, Boston University, and Boston Conservatory. In addition to traditional masterclasses in collaborative repertoire, Alison has shared classes with colleagues such as musicologist Barbara Heyman, English professor David Ball, singers Lynne McMurtry and Aaron Engebreth, and flutist Barry Crawford. From 2006-2011, she was Visiting Assistant Professor at University at Buffalo, working directly with colleagues to create and enhance collaborations and chamber activities in the music department.

Alison has performed at venues across North America, including Boston’s Jordan and Symphony Halls and New York’s Weill Recital Hall. The 2012-13 season features a wide variety of activities in new and established repertoire including reappearances with the Buffalo Chamber Players, several recitals with saxophonist Wildy Zumwalt, and original interdisciplinary projects at Eastman and VISI.

Alison received the Grace B. Jackson Prize from Tanglewood Music Center acknowledging her 'extraordinary commitment of talent and energy.'

Booklet for Achron: Music for Violin and Piano