Saiga Antelope - Cons For Violin & Orchestra [CD]

In this recording, Viktoria Elisabeth Kaunzner has compiled a thrilling selection of contemporary works for violin and orchestra by female composers. She describes her vision thus: "I always saw Antonio Vivaldi as an important role model - as solo violinist, composer and mentor of orphaned girls who took instruction in the violin from him. He founded the orchestra of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice with them, drawing connoisseurs and amateurs from all over Europe and beyond to hear his celebrated violinists. During my long period in Seoul as a practising as a professor of violin, violin soloist and composer. I heard and saw the ballet Giselle to music by Adolphe Adam and was enchanted by an orchestration completely new to me: the instruments of the classical symphony orchestra were augmented by a few selected instruments with silk strings and rosewood such as are familiar in east Asia. I found this combination of tone colours exceptionally attractive and resolved to try out this blend of sounds for myself at home in Europe and bring them to life in an ensemble of my own with selected virtuosos." Violin soloist and composer Viktoria Elisabeth Kaunzner is hailed by the press as a "cross-cultural traveller" for her idea of merging Eastern and Western traditions in music. It is one of her goals to "to feed the channels of the European ear with new things in an intelligent manner". "Like many composers who make music themselves as practitioners, she has a deeper insight into the music than others (American Record Guide)", a combination she pursues with passion that revives the tradition of the composing virtuosos of yesteryear." For that very reason she aims to encourage composers male and female to write new works for violin and orchestra.