He will perform a newly-discovered Violin Concerto by Thomas de Hartmann with the INSO International Symphony Orchestra from Lviv conducted by Dalia Stasevska.
Thomas de Hartmann was a Ukrainian-born composer, pianist and professor of composition, who spent the best part of his life abroad, including in the United States, where he died in 1956 at the age of 71.
Bell told the media: “I am honoured to be part of the ongoing effort to bring Thomas de Hartmann’s works to life. When I first encountered his violin concerto, a work inspired by the toils of war, I was deeply struck by its soulful beauty – and shocked that such a work had received such little recognition. The concerto is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, and is as gripping and relevant today as it was when it was composed in 1943. I am especially grateful to be recording and performing this work with such talented and dedicated artistic partners as Dalia Stasevska and the INSO-Lviv Orchestra. Thanks to this project, Thomas de Hartmann’s music may touch the hearts of many more people, both in his homeland of Ukraine and around the world.”
The programme of the concert also includes works by Ukrainian composers Myrosłav Skoryk, Valentin Silvestrov, and Yevhen Stankovych.
The proceeds from the Warsaw concert are to go for humanitarian aid to Ukraine and for supporting young talented Ukrainian artists.
Born in 1967, Bell is one of the world’s most popular violinists. Having made his solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Riccardo Muti at the age of 14, he has performed with all of the world’s top orchestras. He plays a Huberman Stradivari instrument dating from 1713.
In 2009, Bell gave a concert in Warsaw to help raise funds for the city’s Polin Museum of Polish Jews.
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