Israeli Mandolin Maestro

Berlin-based Israeli Avi Avital makes a triumphant return from 26 October to lead the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in an adventurous exploration of the mandolin.

By overwhelming popular demand, artistic director Paul Dyer is proud to bring Avi Avital to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane following his sell-out 2014 Brandenburg debut.

“Avi has charisma, sparkle, sensitivity and a disarming musical depth. He holds the audience and those he shares the stage with in the palm of his hand… then famously captures the moment in a selfie. He has catapulted the mandolin into a completely different stratosphere,” Dyer said.

Avi is the first mandolin player to be nominated for a classical Grammy Award and has electrified audiences throughout Israel, Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Americas. Memorable performances include Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Berlin Philharmonie, Forbidden City in Beijing, the Paris Philharmonie and Zurich’s Tonhalle

From first picking up the mandolin at the age of eight in Israel, to studying the instrument in Padova, Italy, Avi continues to forge new ground for the mandolin and open the world’s ears to its potential.

“When I hold the mandolin, it is so much part of me…my voice. I don’t think of it as an instrument, but just an extension of myself,” Avi Avital said.

Avi is a successful recording artist, recording exclusively with Deutsche Grammophon. “Between Worlds” introduced chamber music compositions from Ernest Bloch and De Falla to traditional Bulgarian Folk tunes and was released in 2014 to critical acclaim.  Other prominent recordings include “Bach” and “Vivaldi”.

On his last visit to Australia, Ben Nielsen from Cut Common crowned him with the likes of Rock legends. “Avital engages the audience like the Mick Jaggers or the Jimi Hendrix’ of the world, but his is a far more delicate musical proposition. Soothing, entrancing, transcendental,” Nielsen said.

The Age’s Harriet Cunningham similarly sung Avi’s praises. “[Avi] plays his instrument and inhabits the stage with such winning intensity that it is hard to take your eyes off him,” Cunningham said.

Together with the Brandenburg musicians, audiences can expect a concert of lightness, beauty, virtuosity and romantic sonority from 26 October to 8 November.

Sydney City Recital Hall   October 26, 28, 29 November 2,5

Melbourne Recital Centre   November 5, 6

Brisbane Queensland Performing Arts Centre  November 8

For booking tickets click on  https://www.brandenburg.com.au/concerts/2016/avi-avital/