Gil Shaham

The Violin concertos by Haydn are not as well known as the ones by Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Brahms. This description of the concertos by violinist Gil Shaham might be one reason they're not as well known.

Good grammar and proper punctuation has its place on paper - and in the concert hall, especially when it comes to playing the Haydn Violin Concertos.

The music heard here is Haydn's Violin Concerto No. 1 in C major: 1st movement (Canary Classics 08).

Discover more about one of the world's most likable and highly respected violinists here: www.canaryclassics.com.

Most performers likely have more than one favorite composer - and that's the case of with violinist Gil Shaham. High on his list of favorites is the Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, who he says "never wrote a bad note." However, in Prokofiev's First Violin Sonata, Shaham is drawn more to the music's back story than its individual notes.

Gil Shaham has recorded both of the Prokofiev Violin Sonatas with sister, pianist Orli Shaham. While the First Sonata is both grave and dark, the Second Sonata could not be more different: "I can't imagine a more happier piece... with twists and turns that surprise you and make you smile."

More information on Gil Shaham's recordings is available here www.canaryclassics.com.

The music heard here is Prokofiev Violin Sonata No. 1 (Canary Classics 1555).

Violinist Gil Shaham became an overnight success when he substituted for Itzhak Perlman with the London Symphony Orchestra at the last moment. Excited after a champagne sipping flight from New York to London on the Concorde, the teenage age violinist didn't really understand what was happening until five minutes before walking on stage.

That concert attracted worldwide media attention, and put Gil Shaham's name in households throughout the world. Gil Shaham is playing a lot of American music on tour in 2010. Follow his concert schedule, and browse the recordings on his record label - Canary Classics www.canaryclassics.com.

The music heard here is Pablo de Sarasate - Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25 (Canary Classics CC07).