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Niv Ashkenazi

Violins of Hope

Albany Records

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Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship
1 Serenade  
2 Baal Shem, B. 47: II. Nigun  
3 Theme from Schindler's List (Arr. for Violin and Piano)  
4 The Chassid  
5 Bestemming : IV. Triumph (Arr. for Violin and Piano)  
6 Trois pieces de concert: I. Prelude varie - Allegretto ma deciso  
7 II. Romance - Andante con moto  
8 III. Mouvement perpetuel - Allegro vivace  
9 Dance of the Rebbitzen  
10 Berceuse Sfaradite  
11 Deux melodies hebraques: I. Kaddisch  
12 Three Songs Without Words: I. Arioso (Arr. for Violin and Piano)  
13 II. Ballad (Arr. for Violin and Piano)  
14 III. Sephardic Melody (Arr. for Violin and Piano)  
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Violins of Hope is an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Violins in the collection were played in the concentration camps and ghettos, providing a source of comfort for some and a means of survival for others. The project was founded by Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom, Israeli luthiers who collect these instruments, refurbish them to concert quality, and bring them to communities all over the world, so that their voices can be heard again. The Violins of Hope have traveled to Jerusalem, Sion, Madrid, Maastricht, Monaco, Rome, Berlin, London, Bucharest, Dachau, Dresden, and Auschwitz. In the United States, the project has been presented in Charlotte, Cleveland, Houston, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Washington, D.C, Cincinnati, Nashville, Birmingham, Knoxville, Phoenix, Louisville, Fort Wayne, and San Francisco.

Niv Ashkenazi: Violins of Hope is the first solo album to be recorded on one of these instruments. Niv Ashkenazi is the only violinist in the world to hold an instrument from the Violins of Hope collection on a long-term loan, and this album was conceived as a way to create a lasting record of the voice of that violin. Ashkenazi is joined on the album by his fellow Juilliard graduate, pianist Matthew Graybil, and the duo first worked together on the project at various ‘Violins of Hope' events in Sarasota Florida in 2017. The Weinstein family commented; "Niv is the only violinist we trust absolutely to bring out the sounds of long gone horrors, with an honest sound and much love for this music and our legacy."

  • Niv Ashkenazi - The Violins of Hope receives positive review in January/February issue of ARCHI magazine
    Posted At: January 26, 2021 12:00 AM

    Violins of Hope is an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Violins in the collection were played in the concentration camps and ghettos, providing a source of comfort for some and a means of survival for others. The project was founded by Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom, Israeli luthiers who collect these instru...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi - The Violins of Hope is a celebration of art and education / theWholeNote
    Posted At: September 16, 2020 12:00 AM

    Niv Ashkenazi: Violins of Hope is a celebration of the artistic and educational project founded by Israeli luthier Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom in which instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust are restored and played in the best concert halls by the world's best players, the latter including Shlomo Mintz and Daniel Hope
    (Albany Records TROY1810 ...
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  • Niv Ashkenai's recital; 'Violins of Hope' provides a musical soundtrack featuring instruments which survived the Holocaust / LIMELIGHT
    Posted At: August 26, 2020 12:00 AM

    Following on from James A. Grymes book and a a documentary, Niv Ashkenai's recital, Violins of Hope, provides a musical soundtrack featuring instruments which had survived the Holocaust and had made their way to Jerusalem to be restored by luthier Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom. Understandably the book became a great success in America where it also spawned an acclaimed series of concerts and films...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi is the real thing / STAGEANDCINEMA
    Posted At: August 25, 2020 12:00 AM

    For Moshe and Golda's son, Amnon Weinstein, that hope manifested in the thin wooden bodies of violins, violas, and cellos rescued from the Holocaust. Amnon and his son, Avshalom, created Violins of Hope to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit. Using their private collection of over 60 violins, violas, and cellos all restored since the end of World War II, the Weinsteins continue to tell the story of...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi discusses 'Violins of Hope' with 89.7WCPE
    Posted At: August 4, 2020 12:00 AM

    Violins of Hope is an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Violins in the collection were played in the concentration camps and ghettos, providing a source of comfort for some and a means of survival for others. The project was founded by Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom, Israeli luthiers who collect these i...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi - Violins of Hope is 'beyondcriticism'
    Posted At: July 29, 2020 12:00 AM

    Niv Ashkenazi is the first and only artist to receive his fiddle on long-term loan from Violins of Hope. The recital from which we heard luminous excerpts is the first solo album released under the Violins of Hope banner. Founded by the Israeli luthiers Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom Weinstein, Violins of Hope collects, restores to concert quality, and loans out string instruments owned by Jewish m...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi discusses 'Violins of Hope' with All Classical Portland
    Posted At: July 9, 2020 12:00 AM

    Violinist Niv Ashkenazi plays one of a handful of restored violins that survived the Holocaust, and his debut recording, "Violins of Hope" (Albany Records) is a document of the perseverance of the instruments' original owners. Mr. Ashkenazi, along with pianist and fellow Juillard student, pianist Matthew Graybil, breathe life into music that, in some cases, was written and played in the camps on these ve...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi joins FM91: Toledo to discuss 'Violins of Hope'
    Posted At: July 8, 2020 12:00 AM

    Violin virtuoso Niv Ashkenazi joins FM91: Toledo OH to talk about Violins of Hope, an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. With his fellow Juilliard graduate, pianist Matthew Graybil, Niv has released the first solo album to be recorded on one of these instruments. LISTEN TO THE SEGMENT...
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  • Spokane Public Radio interviews Violins of Hope - Niv Ashkenazi
    Posted At: June 28, 2020 12:00 AM

    Violins of Hope is an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Violins in the collection were played in the concentration camps and ghettos, providing a source of comfort for some and a means of survival for others. The project was founded by Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom, Israeli luthiers who collect these instru...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi revives the voice of a violin, silenced In the holocaust / Classical101-WOSU
    Posted At: June 24, 2020 12:00 AM

    Among of the millions of voices silenced during World War II were those of countless musicians. While imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps, they lifted spirits by playing music on beautifully decorated violins. Many of those instruments were also silenced during the Holocaust. But violinist Niv Ashkenazi has now given a priceless violin its voice back, playing the restored instrument in a new recording...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi and Matthew Graybil bring formidable technical prowess, unerring command, and musicality to the hour-long 'Violins of Hope' recording / textura
    Posted At: June 5, 2020 12:00 AM

    Much attention will be given to the instrument violinist Niv Ashkenazi plays on his debut album-justifiably so-but as much should go to the calibre of the performances he and pianist Matthew Graybil, Juilliard graduates both, bring to this special recording. The album takes its name from a project founded by Israeli luthiers Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom whereby instruments owned by Jewish musicia...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi - The Violins of Hope presents a beautiful programme from composers affected by the Holocaust / Music for Several Instruments
    Posted At: June 5, 2020 12:00 AM

    The Violins of Hope project was founded by Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom Weinstein, Israeli luthiers who collect the actual instruments that have survived from their time in the camps of the Holocaust, refurbish them to concert quality, and bring them to communities all over the world. James A. Grymes documented this in his 2014 book Violins of Hope: Violins of the Holocaust - Instruments of Hope ...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi - Violins of Hope is first-rate / Classical CD Reviews
    Posted At: May 30, 2020 12:00 AM

    "Violins of Hope is an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust." - James A. Grymes, author of Violins of Hope Violinist Niv Ashkenazi plays one such violin for this recording, and states in the booklet, "I have chosen Jewish repertoire from throughout its lifetime..." Mr. Ashkenazi is an alum of the Perlman Music...
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  • 'Violins of Hope' Niv Ashkenazi chats with 89.1WMHT
    Posted At: May 21, 2020 12:00 AM

    Violins of Hope is an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Violins in the collection were played in the concentration camps and ghettos, providing a source of comfort for some and a means of survival for others. The project was founded by Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom, Israeli luthiers who collect these instru...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi's playing on 'Violins of Hope' is rich and warm and conveys all the emotion of the music / Culture Spot LA
    Posted At: May 21, 2020 12:00 AM

    On Violins of Hope (Albany Records), violinist Niv Ashkenazi and pianist Matthew Graybil perform a variety of short works for violin and piano by such composers as Ernst Bloch, Maurice Ravel, John Williams ("Theme from Schindler's List") and Sharon Farber, as well as Jewish composers who were affected in some way by the Holocaust. Ashkenazi, a Juilliard graduate who studied with the famed Itzhak Perl...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi is the only violinist in the world to hold an instrument from the 'Violins of Hope' / The Jewish Link
    Posted At: May 18, 2020 12:00 AM

    Niv Ashkenazi, the only violinist in the world to hold an instrument from the Violins of Hope collection on a long-term loan, has just released an album recorded on that instrument featuring music by composers that were affected by the Holocaust. Ashkenazi, a former student of Itzhak Perlman, is joined on the album by his fellow Juilliard graduate, pianist Matthew Graybil. This recording was part of Ashk...
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  • Violins of Hope. Repertoire and an instrument that will not be silenced / xanga - cinemusical
    Posted At: May 7, 2020 12:00 AM

    In the midst of a pandemic, an album with the title Violins of Hope is certainly a welcome experience.  This beautiful collection of 10 varied works for solo violin is a picture of musical approaches across the 20th Century gathered around the very instrument that is used to perform them.  Soloist Niv Ashkenazi perform here on a restored violin that comes from the Violins of Hope project. ...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi - Violins of Hope makes LATimes 'quarantine must-watch of the day'
    Posted At: April 17, 2020 12:00 AM

    Violins of Hope is an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Violins in the collection were played in the concentration camps and ghettos, providing a source of comfort for some and a means of survival for others. The project was founded by Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom, Israeli luthiers who collect these instru...
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  • 'Violins of Hope' concert featuring; Niv Ashkenazi set for Facebook livestream / JEWISH JOURNAL
    Posted At: April 14, 2020 12:00 AM

    Celebrating instruments rescued from the Holocaust and lovingly restored by Avshalom and Amnon Weinstein at their shop in Tel Aviv, the multi-format Violins of Hope project was to take place at concert venues, synagogues and the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust in March and April. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the event's cancellation, and it is now scheduled to take place in January and February 2021....
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  • Niv Ashkenazi - Violins of Hope is the WFMT: Featured New Release
    Posted At: April 13, 2020 12:00 AM

    "Violins of Hope" is an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Violins in the collection were played in the concentration camps and ghettos, providing a source of comfort for some and a means of survival for others. "Niv Ashkenazi: Violins of Hope" is the first solo album to be recorded on one of these instruments. Niv...
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  • New dates announced for 'Violins of Hope' featuring CSUN: Soraya artist-in-residence: Niv Ashkenazi / BroadwayWorld
    Posted At: April 11, 2020 12:00 AM

    The Los Angeles organizers of Violins of Hope are rescheduling concerts and other events for January and February 2021, with an Opening Night concert by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony on Thursday, January 14, 2021 at The Soraya (CSUN). In the meanwhile, as communities continue the ongoing quarantine, The Soraya will present a special one-time-only Facebook Live broadcast featuring artist-in-residenc...
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  • A superb collaboration on 'Violins of Hope' by the immensely gifted Niv Ashkenazi and Matthew Graybil / Rafael's Music Notes
    Posted At: April 6, 2020 12:00 AM

    Violins of Hope is an artistic and educational project that utilizes instruments once owned by Jewish musicians, many of which were played in concentration camps and ghettos. Israeli luthiers Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein have collected many of these instruments, refurbishing them to concert quality, and in this singularly engaging album, violinist Niv Ashkenazi and pianist Matthew Graybil bring to life m...
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  • The CSUN Soraya stage is set for live broadcast with artist-in-residence; Niv Ashkenazi
    Posted At: April 6, 2020 12:00 AM

    In the past two weeks, our world has changed at a breakneck pace. At the same time, it has crawled from one day to the other without distinction. From the comfort of my home with my trusty dog Charley at my side, it seems as if I'm living a perfect Sunday afternoon, over and over again. I'm sure you know the feeling. But the reality is quite different. From my dining room table, I have been communicating...
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  • Niv Ashkenazi will lead 'Violins of Hope' educational workshops with San Fernando Valley K-12 students / Los Angeles Times
    Posted At: February 19, 2019 12:00 AM

    For more than 20 years, Tel Aviv violin maker Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom have collected and restored instruments played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust - instruments often lost or abandoned as their owners attempted to escape the atrocities of World War II. The instruments lived on as their owners perished. To tell the long-forgotten stories of these stringed instruments and the pe...
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