James Ehnes
Violin
“When we now speak of the world’s finest young fiddlers we must surely add the name of this visionary Canadian. Throughout Ehnes’s playing glows. You get the feeling every time he puts bow to string that something special will, quite naturally, just happen.”
Gramophone, January 2010
JAMES EHNES:
FULTON PROJECT
In a unqiue recording project for Onyx Classics, James Ehnes performs on 12 of the greatest string instruments ever made.
James Ehnes violin and viola
Eduard Laurel piano
The Fulton Collection is perhaps the most important private collection of instruments in the world and contains many examples of the legendary names Stradavari, Guarneri and Guadagnini. This CD/DVD release, entitled Homage, sees Ehnes performing a recital programme specially chosen to suit each instrument. The release has won a 2009 June award for Classical Album of the Year in Canada's top music awards ceremony.
|
MULTIMEDIA
courtesy of Onyx Classics
Click here to watch an extract from the Homage DVD: James Ehnes performing Wieniawski (arr. Kreisler) Étude Caprice on the 1698 'Shapiro' Guarneri.
Hear James Ehnes performing Elgar's Salut d'amour on the 1709 'La Pucelle' Stradivari.
|
PRESS QUOTES
"Another triumphant release from James Ehnes, who not only dispatches a programme of favourite violin and viola encores with fizzing charm and charismatic bravado to rival even Itzhak Perlman, he does so on no fewer than 12 different instruments from the world-famous Fulton collection.
The icing on the cake is provided by the DVD, which shows how Ehnes achieves miracles at close hand... Beautifully photographed, consummately played and beguilingly engineered, this is a must for all music lovers."
BBC Music Magazine, Disc of the month, 5 stars, March 2009
"On the CD, you can enjoy Ehnes playing an enriching recital on all 12 instruments...
"The multi-million dollar collection is stunningly recorded and photographed to furnish a handsomely presented historical document which, as Fulton says..."
Gramophone, Editor's Choice, March 2009
"Letting Ehnes loose amid these creations isn't so much like putting a child in a sweet shop as like giving Gordon Ramsay the run of Harrods Food Hall. He selects works from the virtuoso violin repertoire that show off to perfection the individual qualities of each instrument. And if you have ever doubted that the character of a violin makes a difference to the effect of a performance, the results are truly revelatory.
Not just a joy, but a fascination."
Classic FM Magazine, Editor's Choice, 5 stars, March 2009
"Heard with one ear, this CD and DVD package presents an attractive collection of violin bon-bons, with three viola pieces thrown in. Heard with two ears, it's a fascinating journey through history, with Ehnes sharing the repertoire among 12 antique and precious instruments from the Fulton Collection, each with their own subtle character."
The Times, February 2009
"Many of the greatest examples of violins extant by Stradivari and Guarneri 'del Gesù' are part of [the Fulton] collection... THeir owner, justly proud of these gems, has set out, with this interesting and unusal combination of CD and DVD, to celebrate their qualities, both tonal and visual, as they exist today, as well as his close friendship with a musician worthy of them."
Strad Magazine, February 2009
LINKS
» Onyx Classics
» James Ehnes