Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; Antonín Dvořák; Curtis Stewart - Violin Concertos (Gil Shaham)

Information

Composer: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; Antonín Dvořák; Curtis Stewart

• Coleridge-Taylor - Violin Concerto in G minor, Op. 80
• Dvořák - Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53, B. 108
• Stewart - The Famous People: 46.2 - F. Harper

Gil Shaham, violin

Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Eric Jacobsen, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Canary Classics

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This recording features violinist Gil Shaham, conductor Eric Jacobsen, and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in a program that explores the violin concerto as a reflection of cultural memory and continuity. Released on Canary Classics, the album pairs Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto in G minor, Op. 80 with Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53, alongside the world premiere recording of F. Harper from The Famous People by Curtis Stewart. Coleridge-Taylor’s concerto blends Romantic lyricism with rhythmic vitality, while Dvořák’s work draws on folk influences and communal expression. Stewart’s contemporary piece examines themes of identity, lineage, and cultural legacy, linking historical narratives with present-day perspectives through music.

Gil Shaham is an American violinist, widely regarded as one of the most talented and versatile musicians of his generation. Born in 1971 in Urbana, Illinois, to Israeli parents, he began playing the violin at a young age and quickly showed exceptional promise. Shaham studied at the Juilliard School under the guidance of Dorothy DeLay and Itzhak Perlman, and his career skyrocketed after his debut with the New York Philharmonic at just 10 years old. Known for his warm, rich tone and technical precision, Shaham has performed with major orchestras around the world and recorded a broad range of repertoire, including works by both classic and contemporary composers. He is particularly celebrated for his interpretations of the violin concertos by composers like Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Bartók. Shaham has earned numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy nominations, and remains a prominent figure in the classical music world.