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February 23, 2010 - ClassicalToday.com's CD Reviews:
Mandolin Concerto on the Naxos CD
"The [mandolin concerto] finds more timbral variety in this recalcitrant instrument than you would ever believe possible, and it seems to have been conceived with its potential in mind so as to turn any limitations to maximum expressive advantage." David Hurwitz
Full review here
January 28, 2010 - New CD's E-Card
Mandolin Concerto on Naxos
The official e-card of the new NAXOS CD including Avner Dorman's Mandolin Concerto with Metropolis Ensemble NY:
Click here
January 27, 2010 - Two CD Reviews:
Mandolin Concerto on the Naxos CD
A couple of reviews of the new NAXOS CD including Avner Dorman's Mandolin Concerto with Metropolis Ensemble NY:
Review I and Review II
January 10, 2010 - Interview:
Published on Ha'Aretz Daily
Interview by Music Critic and Journalist Noam Ben Zeev: CLICK HERE TO READ (hebrew only)
December 19, 2009 - TV Interview:
on channel 2 (Israel)
Interview on "6 with Oded Ben Ami", Israeli Channel 2: CLICK HERE TO WATCH
December 9, 2009 - World Premier:
New Mandolin Concerto by Menachem Wiesenberg
World premiers of the new Mandolin Concerto by Menachem Wiesenberg are planned for January 2010 (check out the dates on "concert dates" page), with the Israeli Kibbutz Orchestra conducted by Yaron Gotfrid.
November 14, 2009 - World Premier:
New Mandolin Concerto by Joseph Bardanashvili
Two world premiers this week with Israeli Synfonietta, conducted by Doron Salomon of the new Mandolin Concerto by the Georgian/Israeli composer Joseph Bardanashvili.
July 01, 2009 – World Premier:
A piece by David Bruce at Lincoln Center, NY
On September 23, 2009, Avi Avital will perform in the Opening Night Gala-Concert of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center together with Soprano Dawn Upshaw and CMS players. The concert includes the world premier of a piece by UK composer David Bruce.
September 25, 2009 - Review on New York Times
Read NY Times review on David Bruce's new piece here.
July 01, 2009 – World Premier:
A piece by David Bruce at Lincoln Center, NY
On September 23, 2009, Avi Avital will perform in the Opening Night Gala-Concert of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center together with Soprano Dawn Upshaw and CMS players. The concert includes the world premier of a piece by UK composer David Bruce.
June 04, 2009 – Review:
Matan Porat's Mandolin Concerto with Tel Aviv Soloists Ensemble
This review from Haaretz Daily refers to the world premier of the “Madrigals” for mandolin and string orchestra by Matan Porat, performed by Avi Avital and Tel-Aviv Soloists Ensemble of Israel conducted by Barak Tal.
"...Thanks to [Avital's] perfect technique, his instrument appears to be part of his body – another organ – and another means of expression, like speaking or singing. Because the mandolin is small and almost disappears in his hands – when he leans forward we can barely see it – the merge between man and instrument is almost perfect. Avital demonstrates his skill with loads of good taste and originality, interesting concepts and superb musical skills, making his playing particularly moving...
Avital left behind all the associations that come to mind with “Mandolin”. His expression of Porat’s notes revealed a musical world that nobody ever dreamed could come from this instrument..."
For full hebrew version click here
May 2009 – Review:
Dorman's Mandolin Concerto with Israeli Camerata
Reiview from Haaretz Daily by Hagai Hitron (Hebrew only)
Reiview from Habama.co.il by Yossi Schifman (Hebrew only)
February 28, 2009 – Review:
Concert with Georgische Kammerorchester in Igolstadt
By Jesko Schulze-Reimpell / Donaukurier
“The mandolin has a marvelous sound when it is played at world class level, and Avi Avital demonstrates this phenomenon superbly in his very first performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in D major. Avital has the gift of transforming the seemingly impossible into reality. His magical fingers arrange, shape, and twist the melodious phrases so evocatively that they take on a vocal quality, sounding even more vibrant than the music many violinists or cellists coax from their instruments. Ariel Zuckermann conducts his small ensemble, the Georgian Chamber Orchestra, with sensitive restraint, allowing the wonderfully expressive plucking sounds the space they need to reveal their full potential.”