Coming in January 2021
The World Premiere recording of Jake Heggie & Gene Scheer’s acclaimed new song cycle INTONATIONS: Songs from the Violins of Hope features mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and violinist Daniel Hope with a quartet of string players from the San Francisco Opera Orchestra: Kay Stern & Dawn Harms, violins; Patricia Heller, viola; Emil Miland, cello. The final song, “Liberation,” features a special guest appearance by Bay Area violinist Sean Mori.
The Violins of Hope collection is comprised of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. They have been restored by luthiers Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein, founders of the Violins of Hope project in Tel Aviv.
This album was recorded live at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, CA, and features instruments from the collection in memorable performances of string quartet masterpieces by Schubert and Mendelssohn, alongside INTONATIONS, which was inspired by the violins’ histories.
The performances (Jan 18 & 20, 2020) were in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz and in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2020.
The recording will be released physically as a Hybrid SACD and online. Please visit: Violins of Hope
For more information about the composition, see INTONATIONS: Songs from the Violins of Hope (2020).