Chamber Symfony - Sonata for Violin and Chamber Orch

• The two works on this reoording are in their present form world premiere recordings: the Chamber Symphony Op. 73a is an arrangement for strings and woodwinds by tbe famous Russian conductor and violinist Rudolf Barsbai of Shostakovich Third String Quartet; the Sonata for viola and Chamber orchestra, Op. 147a was arranged by Vladimir Mendelssohn from the composer's Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 147. Both works show in their original form clear orchestral characteristics, and Barshai's arrangement of the Chamber Symphony Op. 73a received the composer's full approval.

• This is the repertoire in which Lev Markiz and Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam excel and for which they have received unanimous praise from critics all over the world at their many concert performances of these wonderful works

• Great sound and a striking cover design!

 

Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam was founded in Amsterdam in 1988 by musicians with a special passion for chamber music. Their aim was to create a chamber music ensemble capable of reaching the highest possible level in chamber-music making. Even in its earliest concerts, Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam proved able to realise their objective, as the reactions of the public and tge press confirmed. Since then Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam has won a permanent place for Itself in the musical life of The Netherlands. It caused a particular furore with its concerts of Russian twentieth century music, including works by Stravinsky, Shostakovicb, Schnittke and a number of lesser known Russians such as Kantsjeli, Artiomov and Korndorff. Compositions specially written for Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam by Otto Ketting, Guus Janssen, Willem Jeths and Jeff Hamburg are soon to be premiered. Successful tours include trips to the United States, Germany, Italy, France, the former USSR, Spain, Italy and England. Lev Markiz has been artistic director and chief conductor of the ensemble since its inception.

Vladimir Mendelssohn studied at the Bucharest Conservatory. While still a student he won several important prizes, for viola playing as well as composition. As a soloist Vladimir Mendelssohn toured Japan, Korea, the former Soviet Union, the United States and many European countries. Reteaches masterclasses in Sweden, Finland, France, Switzerland, Italy and The Netherlands, and often plays at international festivals with chamber orchestras. He has played chamber music with Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Gidon Kremer, David Geringas, Gary Carr, Mischa Maisky and others, and with such well-known quartets as the Hagen Quartett, the Alban Berg Quartet and the Lindsay Quartet.