Violinist magazine has released their 14th annual Holiday Gift Guide and have highlighted recent releases from Joshua Bell, Emerson String Quartet and Tessa Lark amongst their seasonal treats.
They write:
Butterfly Lovers
Joshua Bell, violin
Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Tsung Yeh conducting
“Here is an original and beautiful version of the Butterfly Lover’s Concerto – Joshua Bell plays is it in an adaptation that features an ensemble of traditional Chinese instruments.”
Infinite Voyage
Emerson String Quartet
“After 47 years of award-winning music-making, the Emerson String Quartet played their last concerts this year. This is their final album, featuring Schoenberg’s Quartet No. 2 for soprano and string quartet (with soprano Barbara Hannigan) alongside works by Hindemith, Berg, and Chausson’s Chanson perpétuelle.”
The Stradgrass Sessions
Tessa Lark, violin
“Can you play bluegrass on a Stradivari violin? Tessa Lark did, and here is the resulting album, featuring a fusion of classical, folk and bluegrass, with special guest artists Sierra Hull, Edgar Meyer, Michael Cleveland and Jon Batiste.”
Photos: Joshua Bell – Shervin Lainez; Emerson String Quartet – Jürgen Frank
; Hilary Hahn – OJ Slaughter; Tessa Lark – Lauren Desberg