Feature around Niv Ashkenazi and NIV ASHKENAZI: VIOLINS OF HOPE
Review Graveyard
“This is an emotional album which will touch your heart, stir your soul and leave you in - or close to - tears.”
Pizzicato Magazine
“Niv Ashkenazi’s interpretations clearly show the unique characteristics of each composer, and the violinist is deeply committed to each work. This results in exciting and extremely colourful interpretations, characterised by maturity and authority. The interpreter also shows himself to be technically outstanding: the well-considered bowing is paired with a healthy sense of rhythm, colours and dynamics, so that in an overall very lyrical and fluid tone a lot of expression is possible. In addition to virtuoso passages, the more intimate and melancholic pieces are particularly fascinating.”
Music for Several Instruments
“He gets a full, sweet tone from his instrument…and plays with passion, but also grace and style. Also, when called for, wit and humour.”
Textura
“Active as solo and chamber musicians, Ashkenazi and Graybil bring formidable technical prowess, unerring command, and musicality to the hour-long recording. There's an authenticity to these performances that shows how deeply the album's content and the 'Violins of Hope' project resonate with both artists.”
Classical CD Reviews
“His tone is gorgeous - husky and full of texture, perfectly suited to this music. He plays with passion and exceptional musicianship…The recorded sound is excellent - warm, clean and intimately mic'd.”
Scherzo Magazine article
Culture Spot LA
“Ashkenazi’s playing on this album is rich and warm and conveys all the emotion of the music…Together they present an intimate portrait of each piece, and the cumulative effect is one of awe…The album is a historical and musical gem.”
Classical Music Sentinel
“Niv Ashkenazi, along with pianist Matthew Graybil, well project their pain, joy, sorrow, and deep rooted Jewish heritage.”
The Jewish Link
“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. This recording was part of Ashkenazi’s work as Artist in Residence at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) in Northridge, CA.”
Cinemusical
"There are some simply stunning moments in the upper register of the instrument coupled with a moving, engaging performance."
Cultural Attache
"The Soraya had scheduled several events around the Violins of Hope, but those have been postponed due to the pandemic. While they have been rescheduled for early 2021, Niv Ashkenazi will give a concert on one of those violins on Friday.”
Los Angeles Times
Corona Must-Watch of the Day: Live stream at The Soraya with excerpts from NIV ASHKENAZI: VIOLINS OF HOPE.
Rafael Musical Notes
"Throughout the CD the immensely gifted Niv Ashkenazi and Matthew Graybil, his superb pianist both play soulfully imbuing the music with appropriate emotional depth though never falling prey to sentimentality.”
Spectrum News 1
“These are voices that were silenced," Ashkenazi said, "and this is a chance for their voices to be heard again and to tell the history in a different way and enrich the knowledge of these students hopefully.”
ABC7
"Niv Ashkenazi played one of those very special violins for the dance students at Patrick Henry Middle School in Granada Hills. The Julliard-trained violinist has his instrument on long-term loan.”
BroadwayWorld
"[The Soraya's] Artist in Residence and Northridge native Niv Ashkenazi, the only individual musician in North American entrusted with one of the collection's rescued violins, will take the storied instruments on a tour to Los Angeles area schools."
Los Angeles Times
"L.A. musician Niv Ashkenazi is the only North American violinist authorized to possess one of the rescued Holocaust violins. He will lead about 40 educational workshops with K-12 students in the San Fernando Valley.”
Ottawa Citizen
"The notes played on a violin reclaimed from the Holocaust will have special resonance Wednesday evening in an Ottawa synagogue. It will be played to mark the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht."