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For the Record, Op. 370: Leila Schayegh, Esther Yoo, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Maiani da Silva
Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening! Click on the highlighted links to obtain each album or learn more about the artists.
Biber Rosary Sonatas (Rosenkranzonaten)
Leila Schayegh, violin
La Centifolia
Before the Bach Sonatas and Partitas, there were Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber's "Rosary Sonatas." In this cycle of 16 sonatas, Biber sets to music the mysteries of the various Rosary prayers that trace the life of Jesus. Biber made extensive use of "scordatura," requiring a new tuning for each sonata, and these sonatas are some of the most technically challenging of the Baroque era. Swiss violinist Leila Schayegh, who specializes in Baroque and period performance, performs with her ensemble La Centifolia. BELOW: Leila Schayegh performs Biber's Rosary Sonata No. 9.
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Interview with Esther Yoo: Love Symposium
Music and love - these are two things that connect us all and allow us to relate without words. This is the idea at the heart of violinist Esther Yoo's new album, Love Symposium.
"It's an exploration of the many different aspects and forms of love," Yoo told me in an interview in late January. "It's an invitation for listeners to experience a philosophical and an emotional discovery of love - through music."
From the beginning, music has provided an important source of connection for Yoo.
As a painfully shy child, "music was my most comfortable means of communication," she said. "Somehow I wasn't shy about being on stage, playing the violin or the piano for someone." For her, the violin best conveyed the range emotions that she wished to express.
Esther was born in New Jersey to parents loved going to symphony concerts. Since she was an only child, they simply took her along, even as a toddler.
"The first orchestra I heard in my life was the New York Phil, so I was very spoiled!" she said. "I heard some great concerts at Lincoln Center at Carnegie Hall. I remember seeing Perlman, Midori, Sarah Chang... and so I discovered the violin through those concerts. And it wasn't just the violin soloists on stage, but also violinists of the orchestra - my focus was always on the violins."
While she had started piano lessons at age four, it's not surprising that she quickly developed a desire to play the violin, and that it soon eclipsed the piano.
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Augustin Hadelich Named Artistic Partner of Mahler Chamber Orchestra
On Thursday the Mahler Chamber Orchestra announced the appointment of violinist Augustin Hadelich as its new Artistic Partner.
The Mahler Chamber Orchestra is a European-based professional touring chamber orchestra founded in 1997 by Claudio Abbado and former members of the Vienna-based Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. The orchestra is governed by its musicians in collaboration with its managing office, and it has performed in more than 40 countries across five continents.
Hadelich first collaborated with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in 2025, at the Easter Festival in Salzburg.
"I am very excited to join the Mahler Chamber Orchestra as an Artistic Partner!" Hadelich said in a statement. "Working with the MCO has been immensely rewarding. From our first notes together last year in Salzburg, I was impressed and inspired by their sound and musicianship. Our artistic partnership will start with a cycle of Mozart’s violin concertos, and continue with several tours. It will be an inspiring collaboration!" Keep reading...
The Week in Reviews, Op. 536: Alexi Kenney, Maxim Vengerov, David Kim
In an effort to promote the coverage of live violin performance, Violinist.com each week presents links to reviews of notable concerts and recitals around the world. Click on the highlighted links to read the entire reviews.
Alexi Kenney performed Gyorgy Ligeti’s Violin Concerto and other works in a program called "Dream Awake" with the San Francisco Symphony.
- San Francisco Chronicle: "At 32, Kenney, a Palo Alto native and San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra alumnus, has shown himself to be almost unnervingly good at everything he tries — leading orchestras, playing Schumann on gut strings, and now, curating. 'Dream Awake' felt mostly cohesive and never confined. There was room to be surprised."
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