Barkauskas: Partita for solo violin Op. 12

Featuring exuberant young violinist and pianist Diana Galvydyte and Christopher Guild, this exciting new release brings together an incredible set of works by Eastern European, Italian and British composers, many of whom are alive and still composing to this day.

Italian composer Joe Schittino’s Poem ‘Eglè’ is based on the Lithuanian folk tale of Eglè the Serpent Queen, and is a world premiere recording on this disc. Violinist Diana Galvydyte was born in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1984, and grew up close to this folk-tale and its symbolism. The story - the best-known Lithuanian fairy tale - is considered one of the richest in references of Baltic mythology. This is the piece's world premiere recording.

Eduardas Balsys, the influential Lithuanian composer, wrote a ballet in 1960 based on the same story, and it is this score from which ‘Lament’ and ‘Mischievous Drebulytè’ are taken.

Two fabulous works by Scottish composer James Macmillan also feature - After the Tryst is a setting of William Soutar’s love poem which he originally wrote to sing with a folk band, whilst A Different World is a musical yearning for a dream world in which lovers’ wishes might be fulfilled.

Huw Watkins, one of the UK’s most sought after pianists and composers, wrote his beautiful and virtuosic Partita for solo violin in 2006.

With other excellent works by conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen, along with Graźyna Bacewicz, Venjamin Sher and Vytautas Barkauskas, this disc is an exciting exploration of contemporary works for solo violin and violin & piano.

“I have always associated Vilnius with two things – the birthplace of the legendary Jascha Heifetz, and also a composer named Vytautas Barkauskas, whose best-known work for solo violin, Partita, I have loved since I was a teenager. When the opportunity came for me to give a concert in the Lithuanian capital, I went in search of both.” So said the enterprising violinist Philippe Graffin, whose other notable and critically acclaimed CDs for Avie include the world-premiere recording of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto (AV 0044) and the Bohemian-inspired works of Debussy, Ravel and Enescu on In the shades of forests (AV 2069). Philippe’s enquiring mind took him on a journey that led to this CD featuring works by Lithuania’s most notable living composer, including the world-premiere recording of the Duo Concertante for violin, viola and orchestra, with leading Japanese violist Nobuko Imai. Barkauskas’ music is bold and atmospheric, a compelling and powerful aural experience. He says, “Music is everything for me: miracle, mysticism, celebration, profession, pleasure, and ultimately – the reason for living!”