Violins of Hope is an artistic and educational project composed of instruments that were owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Violins in the collection were played in the concentration camps and ghettos, providing a source of comfort for some and a means of survival for others. These instruments have been restored by Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein, who bring them to communities around the world to spread a message of hope, tolerance, and remembrance. 

Niv is the only musician to have one of the Violin of Hope on long-term loan, and Niv Ashkenazi: Violins of Hope is the first solo album recorded on one of these instruments, available now from Albany Records

This year, as the Artist in Residence for the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, Niv is visiting up to 40 schools in the San Fernando Valley to do workshops with the Violin of Hope he has on loan.

ABC7 and Spectrum News both reported on the ongoing project.

On April 25th, 2020, Niv will perform the Theme from Schindler’s List with Eckart Preu, conductor and the Long Beach Symphony. This will be the culminating concert for Violins of Hope LA.

Feature around Niv Ashkenazi and NIV ASHKENAZI: VIOLINS OF HOPE

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“This is an emotional album which will touch your heart, stir your soul and leave you in - or close to - tears.”

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“Niv Ashkenazi’s interpretations clearly show the unique characteristics of each composer, and the violinist is deeply committed to each work. This results in exciting and extremely colourful interpretations, characterised by maturity and authority. The interpreter also shows himself to be technically outstanding: the well-considered bowing is paired with a healthy sense of rhythm, colours and dynamics, so that in an overall very lyrical and fluid tone a lot of expression is possible. In addition to virtuoso passages, the more intimate and melancholic pieces are particularly fascinating.”

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