Contemplations Anna Volovitch, Christoph Croisé, Heinz-Peter Linshalm, Santos String Quartet

• Somar Ajalyaqin (b. 1978): 5 Piano Pieces:
• 1 Ajalyaqin: 5 Piano Pieces: No. 1, Capriccio andalucía 04:35
• 2 Ajalyaqin: 5 Piano Pieces: No. 2, The Cat and the Wool Ball 04:02
• 3 Ajalyaqin: 5 Piano Pieces: No. 3, Consolation 05:41
• 4 Ajalyaqin: 5 Piano Pieces: No. 4, Etude “The Kiss” 03:34
• 5 Ajalyaqin: 5 Piano Pieces: No. 5, The Butterfly and the Flame 08:45
• Cello Sonata:
• 6 Ajalyaqin: Cello Sonata: I. Allegro 06:30
• 7 Ajalyaqin: Cello Sonata: II. Moderato 07:09
• 8 Ajalyaqin: Cello Sonata: III. Allegro con fuoco 06:42
• Somar Ajalyaqin:
• 9 Ajalyaqin: Fantasy for E-Flat Clarinet & Piano "The Cricket in the Mirror" 09:07
• String Quartet “Wuhan Oblivion”:
• 10 Ajalyaqin: String Quartet “Wuhan Oblivion”: I. Molto moderato 07:31
• 11 Ajalyaqin: String Quartet “Wuhan Oblivion”: II. Allegro ma non troppo 05:58
• 12 Ajalyaqin: String Quartet “Wuhan Oblivion”: III. Allegro agitato 06:45
• Total Runtime 01:16:19

Info for Contemplations

Syrian-Emirati composer Somar Ajalyaqin (b. 1978) started his relationship with the arts at an early age in his hometown Damascus. After having studied both poetry and painting, he began his musical journey on his mother’s advice, as she advocated a holistic approach to artistic expression. This debut album with Anna Volovitch, piano, Christoph Croisé, cello, Heinz-Peter Linshalm, clarinet and the Santos String Quartet features a collection of compositions in varied styles and instrumentation: from the Five Piano Pieces with playful titles such as The Cat and the Wool Ball, Capriccio Andalucía or The Butterfly and the Flame, to the Sonata for Cello and Piano and the Fantasy for E-flat Clarinet and Piano 'The Cricket in the Mirror', a wide spectrum of sound and expression is represented here. The intensely touching String Quartet 'Wuhan Oblivion', the composer’s most recent work, paints not only a picture of our eerie streets, abandoned during lockdown, but mostly a picture of our inner lives as we fight to overcome this paradoxal moment of communal loneliness.

Anna Volovitch, piano
Christoph Croise, cello
Heinz-Peter Linshalm, clarinet
Santos String Quartet

Anna Volovitch
has already established herself as an acclaimed concert pianist on the international stage. Her elegant yet powerful style of playing covers a wide range of repertoire, from baroque to contemporary music.

Her talent and dedication have been recognized at several international competitions in Russia, the USA, Denmark, Czech Republic, England, and Indonesia - including the Tchaikovsky, Cleveland, and Queen Elisabeth Competitions.

Anna was born in Kazan (Russia) where she started her musical studies at the age of six, having her debüt as a soloist at age eleven. After graduating with honors from the Kazan State Conservatory, Anna was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to continue her studies in the USA. She holds an Artist Certificate from Azusa Pacific University and a Masters Degree with distinction from Longy School of Music.

Currently living in Vienna (Austria), Anna has also studied privately with Franz Zettl and Paul Badura-Skoda.

Enthusiastic about sharing her experience with the younger generation, Anna has conducted several masterclasses in North and South Americas, Europe, and Asia parallel to her concert schedule, working with talented students of various ages and backgrounds.

In Austria, Anna has performed solo concerts at the Wiener Musikverein, Liszt Festival Raiding, Schloss Niederfellabrunn, MuTh, Brahms Museum Mürzzuschlag, Schloss Traun, Musikwochen Millstatt, and Schloss Goldegg, to name a few and her performances have been broadcast by RadioKlassik and Radio ORF1.

Anna Volovitch is a Bösendorfer Artist and an Artistic Director of the concert series "Konzerte im Achten" in Vienna.

Booklet for Contemplations