Daniel Hope releases Irish Roots on DG (July 5), returns to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival for three-part residency, collaborates with SIGNUM saxophone quartet, Zurich Chamber Orchestra and more this summer
(June 2024) — Daniel Hope, the Berlin-based violinist whose “thriving solo career [is] built on
inventive programming and a probing interpretive style” (New York Times), releases Irish
Roots on Deutsche Grammophon on July 5, a follow-up to his 2022 PBS documentary, Celtic
Dreams: Daniel Hope’s Hidden Irish History. In live performance, he returns to Germany’s
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival for a three-part residency this summer, with collaborators
including the SIGNUM saxophone quartet; pianist Sebastian Knauer; violist Timothy Ridout;
and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra (ZCO), one of the two conductorless ensembles of which
Hope is Music Director. He performed earlier in the summer with the same orchestra in their
third ZCO Festival; and joins them in July for an all-Mozart program led by Christoph
Eschenbach in Zurich and by Hope himself at Baden-Baden’s Festspielhaus and Dresden’s
Frauenkirche. Other summer highlights include multiple European performances of Hope’s
“Irish Roots” program with his AIR Ensemble and returns to both the Menuhin and
Schleswig-Holstein Festivals.
Irish Roots release on DG (July 5) and performances with AIR Ensemble
In 2022, PBS stations nationwide aired Celtic Dreams: Daniel Hope’s Hidden Irish History, a TV
documentary following the violinist as he explored Ireland, Irish music and his own family past.
Next month sees the release of Irish Roots (July 5), an album on Deutsche Grammophon
propelled by Hope’s desire to investigate and express previously dormant strands of his musical
DNA. Among other pieces, it includes music by 20th-century composer Ina Boyle, works by the
great bard and harpist Turlough O’Carolan, and traditional favorites such as “Danny Boy,” plus
classical pieces by itinerant foreigners and the fifth of Vivaldi’s L’estro armonico concertos, a
smash hit in Ireland 300 years ago. Hope is joined on the new album by a stellar line-up of guest
artists, including Lúnasa, harpist Siobhán Armstrong, flautists Sir James and Lady Jeanne
Galway, singer Rea Garvey, multi-instrumentalist and folk musician Ross Daly, fellow violinist
Simos Papanas, and the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Geiss.
Hope explains:
“From the time we left South Africa in the early 1970s until four or five years ago, I held only Irish
nationality. My father was handed an exit permit by the South African authorities, which basically
said, ‘Get out, and stay out.’ It meant we lost our South African citizenship, so we were stranded as
stateless exiles, first in Paris, then in London. My mother discovered that if you had an Irish
grandmother, you could apply for Irish citizenship. She tracked down various birth certificates
and other documents in Waterford, filled in some forms and suddenly we were Irish! That identity
was handed to me before I could walk. It was only much later that I realized it had probably saved
us; certainly, it meant we could stay and work in London, which ultimately led to my mother
becoming Yehudi Menuhin’s secretary. I’ve kept my Irish citizenship precisely because of the
enormous gratitude I feel towards Ireland and for what it means to my entire family.”
An interview with Hope about the album can be found here.
Hope gives several live performances of music from Irish Roots and more this summer along with
his AIR Ensemble, comprising Simos Papanas on violin, Emanuele Forni on both lute and
Baroque guitar, Nicola Mosca on cello and harp, Michael Metzler on percussion and Markellos
Chryssicos on harpsichord. They perform in the German cities of Essen (June 23), Bad Füssing
(July 20), and Pulheim (Aug 30); and in Zweisimmen, Switzerland at the Menuhin Festival
(July 30).
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein Festivals
Hope’s first set of concerts at the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival is with the SIGNUM
saxophone quartet, performing chamber music by Bloch, Weill, Bruch, Gershwin, and Ravi
Shankar (June 20 & 21). Two weeks later, bookending his recital of works by Grieg, De Falla, and
others with pianist Sebastian Knauer (July 7), he gives two performances of Bruch’s Concerto
for Violin, Viola, and Strings with Gramophone Award-winning violist Timothy Ridout and The
Hope Orchestra, which comprises both young musicians and leading professionals (July 6 & 7).
The Hope Orchestra also performs a program of Vivaldi, Bach and Piazzolla at the
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival (Aug 29 & 31). For the third and final installment of his
residency, Hope reunites with the ZCO, first for a program that traces the history of Western
dance from medieval times to the present day, as heard on their previous Deutsche
Grammophon release, DANCE!, which topped the German classical chart (July 25). For the next
two performances they are joined by SIGNUM saxophone quartet for the world premiere of
Christian Jost’s Eismeer, subtitled “concertante poem in three movements after the painting The
Ice Sea by Caspar David,” sharing the bill with music for string orchestra by Elgar and
Tchaikovsky (July 26 & 27).
Recent U.S. successes
One of Hope’s concerts at the ZCO Festival this summer – a program of Fauré and Chausson –
features pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips, Hope’s partner on the 2020 album Belle Époque. The
two recently gave performances based on that album in St. Paul, Minnesota and San Francisco that
also included the U.S. premiere of Fantasy Suite 1803 by two-time Grammy winner Jake Heggie.
This spring, Hope also gave a series of Bay Area performances with New Century Chamber
Orchestra, of which he has been Music Director and Concertmaster since 2018, and toured his
“Irish Roots” program to St. Paul, Montreal and Toronto. After the Toronto performance, La Scena
Musicale commented:
“Violinist Daniel Hope did as much as anyone to help us get through the COVID-19 pandemic, and
continues to spread joy wherever he goes. … All in all, this was a splendid survey of Irish and
Irish-related music, with entertaining and enlightening commentary provided by Hope. The
program was thoughtfully put together and carefully researched, and the performances were
exemplary in every way.”
Download high-resolution photos here.
Facebook.com/daniel.hope.page
Instagram.com/violinhope
Danielhope.com
Daniel Hope: Irish Roots on Deutsche Grammophon
Release date: July 5
1 TRAD: Morning Nightcap
2 TRAD: Codladh an Óigfhir (The Young Man’s Sleep)
3 TRAD: Follow Me Up to Carlow
4 TRAD: Irish Tunes I: Cooley’s – Seán Frank – Fair and Forty
5 Ina BOYLE: Phantasy for Violin and Chamber Orchestra
6 TRAD: The Minor Bee
7 attr. PURCELL: A New Irish Tune Z. 646 – Lilliburlero
KUSSER: Arias from Erindo oder Die unsträfliche Liebe
8 1. Gavotte
9 2. Menuet
10 3. Branle de Village
11 4. Bourrée I
12 5. Aria
13 6. Bourrée II
14 Ross DALY: Makrinitsa
VIVALDI: Concerto No. 5 in A for 2 Violins and Orchestra, RV 519
from L’estro armónico, Op. 3
15 1. Allegro
16 2. Largo
17 3. Allegro
18 ROSEINGRAVE: Introduction in G minor from XLII Suites de pièces pour le clavecin …
composées par Domenico Scarlatti (ed. Thomas Roseingrave)
19 Gavotte in F minor from Eight Suits of Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnet: Fifth Sett
20 arr. GEMINIANI: Auld Bob Morrice
21 TRAD: Irish Tunes II: The One-Horned Cow – Patsy Jouhey’s – Killavil Jig
22 O’CAROLAN: O’Carolan’s Concerto
23 TRAD: Molly Malone (in memory of Tobias Lehmann)
24 TRAD: The Red-Haired Boy
25 TRAD: The Waterford Waltz
26 TRAD: Danny Boy
27 TRAD: Ladies, Step Up to Tea
28 O’CAROLAN: O’Carolan’s Farewell to Music
Daniel Hope: summer engagements
June 19
Neuhardenberg, Germany
Jan Vogler, cello
Marie Sophie Hauzel, piano
DVOŘÁK: Sonatina in G for violin and piano, Op. 100
John WILLIAMS: Theme from Schindler’s List (arr. cello and piano)
RÓZSA: Prelude and Love Theme from Spellbound
SCHNITTKE: Sonata for cello and piano
MENDELSSOHN: Trio in D minor, Op. 49, No. 1
June 20
Dargun, Germany
Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
SIGNUM saxophone quartet
RAVEL: Le tombeau de Couperin for saxophone quartet (arr. Christoph Enzel)
BLOCH: “Prayer” from From Jewish Life for violin and saxophone quartet (arr. SIGNUM saxophone quartet)
WEILL: “Youkali” from Marie Galante for violin and saxophone quartet (arr. Laura Marconi)
BRUCH: Kol Nidrei for violin and saxophone quartet, Op. 47 (arr. SIGNUM saxophone quartet)
GERSHWIN: Song-Suite for violin and saxophone quartet (arr. Paul Bateman)
SHANKAR: Improvisations by Daniel Hope on a raga by Ravi Shankar
June 21
Bleckede, Germany
Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
SIGNUM saxophone quartet
RAVEL: Le tombeau de Couperin for saxophone quartet (arr. Christoph Enzel)
BLOCH: “Prayer” from From Jewish Life for violin and saxophone quartet (arr. SIGNUM saxophone quartet)
WEILL: “Youkali” from Marie Galante for violin and saxophone quartet (arr. Laura Marconi)
BRUCH: Kol Nidrei for violin and saxophone quartet, Op. 47 (arr. SIGNUM saxophone quartet)
GERSHWIN: Song-Suite for violin and saxophone quartet (arr. Paul Bateman)
SHANKAR: Improvisations by Daniel Hope on a raga by Ravi Shankar
June 22
Oslo, Norway
Oslo Opera House
VIVALDI: The Four Seasons
Max RICHTER: Vivaldi Recomposed
June 23
Essen, Germany
Ostfriesische Landschaft
“Irish Roots”
AIR Ensemble:
Simos Papanas, violin
Nicola Mosca, violoncello and harp
Michael Metzler, percussion
Emanuele Forni, theorbo
Markellos Chryssicos, harpsichord
Works by VIVALDI, PURCELL, OSWALD and others as well as Irish folk music
June 28
Wiesbaden, Germany
Rheingau Musik Festival
WDR Funkhausorchester
“Escape To Paradise”
James Blachly, conductor
WILLIAMS, RÓZSA, KORNGOLD
July 2
Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
MOZART:
Symphony No. 35 in D, K. 385, “Haffner”
Violin Concerto No. 5 in A, K. 219
Symphony No. 38 in D, K. 504, “Prague”
July 6
Stolpe, Germany
Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
The Hope Orchestra
Timothy Ridout, viola
VIVALDI: Concerto grosso in B minor for four violins, strings and basso continuo, Op. 3, No. 10, RV 580
(from L’estro armonico)
BRUCH: Concerto in E minor for violin, viola and strings, Op. 88
MENDELSSOHN: String Symphony No. 10 in B minor
GRIEG: From Holberg’s Time suite for strings, Op. 40
July 7 Morning
Ulrichshusen, Germany
Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Sebastian Knauer, piano
GRIEG: Sonata No. 3 in C minor for violin and piano, Op. 45
DE FALLA: Suite populaire espagnole for violin and piano
MENDELSSOHN: Songs (selection)
July 7 Afternoon
Ulrichshusen, Germany
Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
The Hope Orchestra
Timothy Ridout, viola
VIVALDI: Concerto grosso in B minor for four violins, strings and basso continuo, Op. 3, No. 10, RV 580
(from L’estro armonico)
BRUCH: Concerto in E minor for violin, viola and strings, Op. 88
MENDELSSOHN: String Symphony No. 10 in B minor
GRIEG: From Holberg’s Time suite for strings, Op. 40
July 13
Dresden, Germany
Frauenkirche Dresden
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
MOZART:
Symphony No. 35 in D, K. 385, “Haffner”
Violin Concerto No. 5 in A, K. 219
Symphony No. 38 in D, K. 504, “Prague”
July 14
Baden-Baden, Germany
Festspielhaus Baden-Baden
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
MOZART:
Symphony No. 35 in D, K. 385, “Haffner”
Violin Concerto No. 5 in A, K. 219
Symphony No. 38 in D, K. 504, “Prague”
July 20
Bad Füssing, Germany
Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau
“Irish Roots”
AIR Ensemble:
Simos Papanas, violin
Nicola Mosca, violoncello and harp
Michael Metzler, percussion
Emanuele Forni, theorbo
Markellos Chryssicos, harpsichord
Works by VIVALDI, PURCELL, OSWALD and others as well as Irish folk music
July 21
Pietrasanta, Italy
TBA
July 25
Ulrichshusen, Germany
Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
“DANCE!”
GLUCK: “Danse des Furies” from Orphée ed Euridice
ANONYMOUS: Lamento di Tristano
HANDEL: Rigaudon from Water Music Suite No. 3 in G, HWV 350
DALL’ABACO: Excerpts from Concerto à più istrumenti in D, Op. 5, No. 6
CONFORTO: Fandango from L’Endimione
MOZART: Rondo in B flat, K. 269
SCHUBERT: German Dances No. 4 and No. 5, D 90
BIZET: Farandole from L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2
BARTÓK: Romanian Folk Dances, Sz 68
TRADITIONAL: Odessa Bulgar
PRICE: Ticklin’ Toes
SAINT-SAËNS: Danse macabre, Op. 40
OFFENBACH: Galop Infernal Cancan from Orphée aux enfers
TCHAIKOVSKY: Pas de deux from Swan Lake
PROKOFIEV: “Dance of the Knights” from Romeo and Juliet
SCHULHOFF: Alla Tarantella. Prestissimo con fuoco from Five Pieces
PIAZZOLLA: Escualo
KILAR: Orawa
July 26
Greifswald, Germany
Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
Christian Jost, conductor (Eismeer)
SIGNUM saxophone quartet
Lukas Böhm, vibraphone
ELGAR: Introduction and Allegro for strings, Op. 47
Christian JOST: Eismeer, concertante poem in three movements after the painting The Ice Sea by Caspar
David for saxophone quartet, vibraphone and strings (world premiere)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade in C for strings, Op. 48
July 27
Ulrichshusen, Germany
Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
Christian Jost, conductor (Eismeer)
SIGNUM saxophone quartet
Lukas Böhm, vibraphone
ELGAR: Introduction and Allegro for strings, Op. 47
Christian JOST: Eismeer, concertante poem in three movements after the painting The Ice Sea by Caspar
David for saxophone quartet, vibraphone and strings (world premiere)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade in C for strings, Op. 48
July 29
Gstaad, Switzerland
Menuhin Festival
“DANCE!”
GLUCK: “Danse des Furies” from Orphée ed Euridice
ANONYMOUS: Lamento di Tristano
HANDEL: Water Music Suite No. 3 in G, HWV 350
DALL’ABACO: Concerto grosso in D, Op. 5, No. 6
CONFORTO: Fandango from L’Endimione
MOZART: Rondo for violin and orchestra in B-flat, K. 269
SCHUBERT: Excerpts from German Dances, D 89 (D 90)
BIZET: Farandole from L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2
BARTÓK: Six Romanian Folk Dances, Sz 56
SCHULHOFF: Alla Tarantella. Prestissimo con fuoco from Five Pieces
TCHAIKOVSKY: Pas de deux from Swan Lake
OFFENBACH: Galop Infernal Cancan from Orphée aux enfers
SAINT-SAËNS: Danse macabre, Op. 40
PROKOFIEV: “Dance of the Knights” from Romeo and Juliet
PIAZZOLLA: Escualo
July 30
Zweisimmen, Switzerland
Menuhin Festival
Zweisimmen Church
“Irish Roots”
IRISH TRADITIONALS: “Cooley’s,” “Seán Frank,” “Fair and Forty,” “The One-Horned Cow,” “Patsy Jouhey’s,”
“Killavil Jig”
ROSEINGRAVE:
Introduction to Scarlatti’s Lessons (arr. by Olivier Fourès)
Fifth Sett (arr. Olivier Fourès)
Suite for harpsichord No. 5 in F minor, V. Gavotte
PURCELL: A New Irish Tune, Z.646
SCARLATTI:
Sonata for harpsichord in B minor, K, 27 (arr. by Olivier Fourès)
Sonata for harpsichord in D minor, K, 141 (arr. by Olivier Fourès)
KUSSER: Arias from Erindo or The Immaculate Love (arr. by Olivier Fourès)
GEMINIANI: “Auld Bob Morrice”
OSWALD: “She’s Sweetest When She is Naked,” “Scotsman Over the Border,” “Murray’s March”
FALCONIERO: Ciaccona
VIVALDI:
Concerto for two violins No. 5 in A, Op. 3, No. 5, RV 519 (from L’estro armonico): Allegro
Trio Sonata in D minor, Op. 1, No. 8, RV 64, I. Preludio
Violin Concerto in B minor, RV 387, “Slip Jig”
O’CAROLAN:
O’Carolan’s Devotion
O’Carolan’s Concerto
IRISH TRADITIONALS: “Codladh an Óighir” (arr. Siobhán Armstrong), “The Waterford Waltz,” “The Red
Haired Boy,” “Coey’s Hornpipe,” “Pingneacha Rúa agus Prás,” “Dublin Streets,” “Dever the Dancer,”
“Connaughtman’ s Ramble,” “The Humors of Castel Bernard”
Aug 29
Husum, Germany
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival
The Hope Orchestra
VIVALDI, J.S. BACH, PIAZZOLLA
Aug 30
Pulheim, Germany
“Irish Roots”
VIVALDI, PURCELL, IRISH TRADITIONALS
Aug 31
Kiel, Germany
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival
The Hope Orchestra
VIVALDI, J.S. BACH, PIAZZOLLA
Sep 7
Dresden, Germany
Ensemble Frauenkirche Dresden
Matthias Grünert, conductor
J.S. BACH:
Overture in D, BWV 1068
Concerto for violin and orchestra in A minor, BWV 1041
Lobe den Herren, Cantata BWV 137
Kyrie and Gloria from B Minor Mass, BWV 232
Sep 17
Merano, Italy
Südtirol Festival
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
GLUCK, HANDEL, MOZART
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