2022202120202017–2019in MediaGallery
2022202120202017–2019in MediaGallery

Pavel Šporcl

& Blue violin

Rediscovering
Jan Kubelík

& 2017–2022
Highlits

Pavel Šporcl

& Blue violin

Rediscovering
Jan Kubelík

&  2017–2022
highlights

Rediscovering
JAn Kubelík

& 2017–2022
Highlits

Pavel Šporcl, the Man with Blue Violin, is celebrated around the world. He is considered in the ‘royal line’ of Czech violinists, having been taught by the legendary teacher Václav Snítil (himself taught by Jaroslav Kocian) as well as by Itzhak Perlman, Eduard Schmieder and Dorothy DeLay. Šporcl, whose iconic blue violin was created by leading contemporary instrument maker Jan Špidlen, has done a great deal to popularise classical music. Šporcl has been presented with the Sri Chinmoy Torch Bearer Award at the United Nations in New York for his work bringing people together through music as well as with Presidental Medal of Merit, Czech Republic. With his latest album release he brings to life a forgotten masterpiece, the Violin Concerto No.1 by now-forgotten violin superstar Jan Kubelik - with its world premiere recording , and major concert tour.

Šporcl records for Hänssler Classic and for Universal Music (previously for Supraphon or Cedille Records) with CD sales currently numbering around a quarter of a million. Of his recording of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Gramophone magazine wrote, “Pavel Sporcl has established himself on disc as the most charismatic of Czech violinists, spontaneously imaginative and individual in everything he does...” His album, “Christmas On The Blue Violin'” (with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sebastian Lang-Lessing, for Universal Music Group) went platinum within eight weeks and even made the top 10 bestselling pop albums chart of its year (the only classical album to do so). Šporcl's first album for Hänssler, "Paganiniana", a dazzling solo album released in 2021, won great reviews and was nominated for the ICMA Award.

Šporcl has been a tireless innovator and cultural leader. During the pandemic-hit 2020–21 he was the first classical musician to perform a ‘drive in’ concert, the first to give a concert on a lake (to socially distanced audience members in boats!), and giving livestreamed full concerto performances with prerecorded backing tracks from his living room for The Strad and The Violin Channel.

2022

Jan Kubelík's

Violin Concerto No.1

The world premiere recording

CD title: Homage to Jan Kubelík, Hänssler Classic, released October 2022

Jan Kubelik, father of conductor Rafael Kubelik, was one of the world's biggest music celebrities, playing to audiences of 100,000+, then faded into obscurity with the outbreak of war Kubelik is a hero to modern-day Czech star violinist Pavel Šporcl, who has put together this recording, plus a 13-concert tour. Alongside the Kubelik, the new album also includes the not little-known Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, included because of its association with Jan Kubelik, whose interpretation was renowned. It is also a work that is dear to Pavel Šporcl's heart. When he played it at London's Cadogan Hall recently, reviewer Guy Rickards wrote in Musical Opinion, "This may just be the finest live account of Mendelssohn's E minor Concerto I have heard" (and he was not alone in that opinion among the reviewers).

Jan Kubelik, father of conductor Rafael Kubelik, was one of the world's biggest music celebrities, playing to audiences of 100,000+, then faded into obscurity with the outbreak of war. Kubelik is a hero to modern-day Czech star violinist Pavel Šporcl, who has put together this recording, plus a 13-concert tour. Alongside the Kubelik, the new album also includes the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, included because of its association with Jan Kubelik, whose interpretation was renowned. It is also a work that is dear to Pavel Šporcl's heart. When he played it at London's Cadogan Hall recently, reviewer Guy Rickards wrote in Musical Opinion, "This may just be the finest live account of Mendelssohn's E minor Concerto I have heard".

quote

This CD  must be recommended above all because of its soloist, the Czech violinist Pavel Sporcl. Indeed, the violinist impresses with an absolutely perfect and in all respects balanced playing. In addition, he surprises with a darkly timbred, open and wonderfully full sound, which is more in the tradition of the old masters than now the more analytical, delicate sound of the middle and younger generations. 

Alain Steffen

Homage to jan Kubelik Spotify previews

Pavel Šporcl violin, Prague symphony orchstra conducted by Tomáš Brauner

Watch The Making Of 'Homage To Jan Kubelík'

2022

Two concertos during one evening

Tour Homage to Masters II

The album release was followed by extensive 13–concert tour of the Czech Republic. Šporcl played both concertos from the album 'Homage To Jan Kubelik'. The tour attracted excellent reviews and standing ovations. Three conductors and four orchestras participated in the tour: Jiří Rožeň, Roberto Vorés Veses, Tomáš Brauner and Prague Symphony orchestra, North Czech Philharmonic, Janáček Philharmonic and Moravian Philharmonic Olomouc. 

quote

Sporcl's violin sang as if for its very life. It is ideal that this mission of discovery was undertaken by Sporcl, who combines the attributes of a technically excellent player, a great musician and a person who knows how to deal with every new and surprising situation. Šporcl played Kubelík's music with welcome brilliance, great care for the interplay and precise intonation. His rendering of the lyrical passages was not lacking in honeyed colours. Both pieces were played brilliantly, When the concert ended the hall was already on its feet.

Milan Bátor

2022

International Concert Highlights

October

UK concerts with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Robert Trevino

Alexandr Glazunov - Violin Concerto

July

Disney HAll, Los Angeles

March

concerts in Germany with MDR Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Robert Kružík

Peter Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major op. 35

quote

From review for Pavel Šporcl’s recent concert(s) with the MDR Symphony Orchestra:

Out of this world…It has been a long time since the audience were as enthusiastic as at this concert…the Czech star violinist Pavel Sporcl tore the audience from their seats, cheering…at the cadence of the first movement you could hear a pin drop…the audience were so under his spell, then showed their appreciation with a standing ovation and long minutes of heartfelt applause. 

Peter Lauterbach

2021

ICMA Nomination

in solo instruments category (violin) for the album Paganiniana 

Paganiniana  album

CD title: Paganiniana, Hänssler Classic, released october 2021

Jan Kubelik, father of conductor Rafael Kubelik, was one of the world's biggest music celebrities, playing to audiences of 100,000+, then faded into obscurity with the outbreak of war Kubelik is a hero to modern-day Czech star violinist Pavel Šporcl, who has put together this recording, plus a 13-concert tour. Alongside the Kubelik, the new album also includes the not little-known Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, included because of its association with Jan Kubelik, whose interpretation was renowned. It is also a work that is dear to Pavel Šporcl's heart. When he played it at London's Cadogan Hall recently, reviewer Guy Rickards wrote in Musical Opinion, "This may just be the finest live account of Mendelssohn's E minor Concerto I have heard" (and he was not alone in that opinion among the reviewers).

Mount Everest of Violin Repertoire. Works for Solo Violin from Paganini, Ernst, Schnittke, Milstein, Kreisler, Slavík... Šporcl's first release for Hänssler Classic recieved ICMA Award nomination. 

Paganiniana Spotify previews

Paganiniana tour

Extensive 14–concert tour of the Czech Republic

Watch Live performance from Paganiniana Tour

quote

Even this recording, with stupendous technique that simply makes demands inaudible with masterful control, testifies that he holds the playing skills high... Here the technically demanding violin music is once again impressively presented.

2020

2020

The living-room series - streamed home concerts during Covid

During the pandemic-hit, Šporcl was a tireless innovator and cultural leader – being the first classical musician to perform a ‘drive in’ concert, the first to give a concert on a lake (to socially distanced audience members in boats!), and giving livestreamed full concerto performances with pre- recorded backing tracks from his living room for The Strad and The Violin Channel. Also, established a successful paid subscription series, which was also used to support other Czech artists.

2017–2019

2017
–2019

Christmas On The Blue Violin album and tours

CD title: Christmas On The Blue Violin, with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sebastian Lang-Lessing, Universal Music Group, released 2017

Album went platinum within eight weeks and even made the top 10 bestselling pop albums chart of its year (the only classical album to do so). Album release was followed by two tours of the Czech Republic in 2017 and 2018 followed by a six-concert series with Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in United Kingdom. 

Christmas On The Blue Violin Spotify previews

Pavel Šporcl violin, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sebastian Lang-Lessing

Watch Christmas on the Blue Violin concert

2017–2019

2017
–2019

Touring the World with Gipsy Fire

In addition to his classical activities, Šporcl leads a hugely successful Czech gypsy music ensemble called Gipsy Way Ensemble, that has played more than 400 concerts internationally since 2010 and recorded two successful albums. Between 2017–2019 they brought the Gipsy Fire program to (in alphabetical order) Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and USA.

Gipsy Way Ensemble previews

Pavel Šporcl and Gipsy Way Ensemble

Featured on Spotify

Gipsy Fire concert, 2014

2019

International Concert Highlights

December

Spirit of Christmas, A six-concert series in UK

Ian Tracey conductor, John Suchet presenter, Simon Emery Aristic Director, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

June

UK concert with English Symphony Orchestra

London, Cadogan Hall. Program: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy – Violin Concerto in E minor

quote

 

This may just be the finest live account of Mendelssohn's E minor Concerto
I have heard

Guy Rickards

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