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. 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.

“What does it mean to be human? A hackneyed question, yes, but one that still to this day welcomes a potpourri of responses, weaving themselves into an unfinished tapestry of the human condition. This album is one such personal response. It glimpses into the distinct yet interlinked stories of four composers, whose musical personalities are conveyed through four beloved works from the violin repertoire and have profoundly inspired me to address this question.
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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,