Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Virtuoso Dances (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

2020… Sitting at home with no performances ahead brought Linus Roth back to his notebooks, in which he had been jotting down random musical ideas over the course of many years. One of them that suddenly struck him, was an idea for a recording programme made up of some of his most beloved pieces for violin and piano, all of which had in common both a virtuoso character and that they were all dances. What better way to lift the spirits than with dance music? Linus called his long term musical partner, pianist José Gallardo and five weeks later, they had the remarkable opportunity to record the album in the visually stunning and acoustically unique Library of the former monastery in Ochsenhausen, Germany, home of the Music Academy of Baden-Württemberg.

Sitting at home during the global pandemic with all performances cancelled for the foreseeable future, acclaimed violinist, Linus Roth turned to his notebooks of random musical ideas and jottings for inspiration. One idea jumped off the page at him – to record a programme made up of some of his most beloved pieces for violin and piano, all of which had in common both a virtuoso character and that they were all dances. What better way to lift the spirits at this time than with dance music?

He called his long term musical partner, pianist José Gallardo to plan out the recording and five weeks later, they had the remarkable opportunity to record the album in the visually stunning and acoustically unique Library of the former monastery in Ochsenhausen, Germany, home of the Music Academy of Baden-Württemberg. This venue had a particular significance for Roth, as he had first stood on the hall’s stage to perform at the tender age of eleven and had recently been appointed Artistic Director of the Music Festival ‘Schwäbischer Frühling’ which takes place every May in this same hall. As the festival in 2020 had also had to be cancelled, it was a wonderful synergy to be back on that very same stage and to have the amazing opportunity to bring this vivid recording idea to life.

Tracklist:
01. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Romanian Folk Dances: I. Jocul cu bâtă (Stick Dance) (Arr. by Z. Székely) (01:27)
02. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Romanian Folk Dances: II. Brâul (Sash Dance) (Arr. by Z. Székely) (00:32)
03. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Romanian Folk Dances: III. Topogó – Pe loc (In One Spot) (Arr. by Z. Székely) (01:17)
04. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Romanian Folk Dances: IV. Bucsumí tánc – Buciumeana (Dance from Bucsum) (Arr. by Z. Székely) (01:25)
05. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Romanian Folk Dances: V. Román polka – Poarga Românească (Romanian Polka) (Arr. by Z. Székely) (00:32)
06. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Romanian Folk Dances: VI. Aprózó – Mărunțel (Fast Dance) – (Arr. by Z. Székely) (00:59)
07. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Divertimento: I. Sinfonia (Arr. by S. Dushkin) (06:53)
08. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Divertimento: II. Danse Suisse (Arr. by S. Dushkin) (04:58)
09. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Divertimento: III. Scherzo (Arr. by S. Dushkin) (03:15)
10. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Divertimento: IVa. Pas de deux – Adagio (Arr. by S. Dushkin) (03:33)
11. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Divertimento: IVb. Pas de deux – Variation (Arr. by S. Dushkin) (01:04)
12. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Divertimento: IVc. Pas de deux – Coda (Arr. by S. Dushkin) (02:25)
13. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Le Grand Tango (Arr. by S. Gubaidulina) (08:46)
14. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Hungarian Dances: No. 17 (Arr. by F. Kreisler) (04:12)
15. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Hungarian Dances: No. 2 (Arr. by J. Joachim) (02:58)
16. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Hungarian Dances: No. 4 (Arr. by J. Joachim) (04:37)
17. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Hungarian Dances: No. 5 (Arr. by J. Joachim) (02:33)
18. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Polonaise de Concert, Op. 4 (05:50)
19. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – La Ronde des Lutins, Op. 25 (05:45)
20. Linus Roth & José Gallardo – Notturno et Tarantella, Op. 28 (11:33)