IRISH ROOTS

Violinist Daniel Hope’s latest album Irish Roots is released today. It embodies his deep connection with Ireland that was passed down to him by his paternal great-grandfather who left the country in the 1890s to live in South Africa. Propelled by a persisting fascination with the Irish culture as well as a desire to express previously dormant strands of his musical DNA, Hope investigates the intersection of folk and classical music and takes his listeners on an expedition of discovery filled with familiar landmarks, creative adventures and musical surprises.

Besides featuring traditional pieces such as “Danny Boy” and Vivaldi’s L’estro armonico concertos, the album also makes room for compositions by 20th-century-composer Ina Boyle and harpist Turlough O’Carolan. Hope is further joined by a stellar line-up of guest artists, ranging from Lúsiana, harpist Siobhán Armstrong, flautists Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway to singer Rea Garvey, multi-instrumentalist and folk musician Ross Daly, fellow violinist Simos Papanas and the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Geiss.