STORIES (re)TRACED
“Listen to the album, and you might conclude that the beautiful thing is the musicianship and humanity captured on this exciting new album”
One instrument. Four stories. The transformative power of empathy, multiculturalism and what it means to be human.
Internationally acclaimed violinist Nancy Zhou presents her own personal exploration of the essence of the human experience through four masterful composers: Bach, Bartók, Ysaÿe, and Kreisler.
From Bach’s intricate counterpoint to Bartók’s raw folk intensity, and from Ysaÿe’s breathtaking virtuosity to Kreisler’s lyrical charm, the album is a captivating journey through the soul of the violin. Offering her own fresh perspective on these iconic works, blending historical insight with personal interpretation, Nancy Zhou invites listeners to engage with the music on a profound and intimate level.
“As you listen to the finished interpretations you realise that this artist – who has a probing interest in cultural heritage and the humanities – has pulled off exactly what she describes."
“Sublime debut effort… Her exquisite reading of Ysaÿe alone is worth the price of admission.”
A sought-after soloist and chamber musician, Nancy Zhou has performed with leading orchestras worldwide, including the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Munich Symphony, and Hong Kong Philharmonic. Passionate about education and musical exploration, she is a dedicated mentor and a champion of contemporary works, bridging cultural heritage with artistic innovation.
“By any standards, this is a mighty programme”
“Vivid and musically powerful performance"
"Ultimately, music-making is all about communication. It speaks to our tendency to share stories - about each other, about ourselves - and to see what overlaps."
In the most intimate and vulnerable corners of my imagination, I’ve sought help from each of these personalities: “Bach, father of divine music, master of counterpoint and synthesizer of musical styles and forms, how do you steer a conversation between disparate thoughts towards a sublime state of harmony, away from superfluous conflict? Bartók, folk music alchemist, can you share with us what you’ve learned from the peasant folk of the East, far removed from modern, manicured society, and how you straddle the eccentric and visceral expression of their musical language and the Western tradition of compositional techniques? And, Ysaÿe and Kreisler, colorists and purveyors of beauty, please share with us how your friendship came to be and what lyricism means to you?”
I found open-ended answers and am content to leave them open-ended. Under the guidance of the scores of their works, this quartet of composers helped me retrace and deconstruct the steps in their creative process, and along the journey, trace my own creative path forward - towards the vast terrain of empathy, connection, and all-encompassing expression. Within the music of this album, I invite you to find your own creative answers.
With love,
