Esther Abrami

On her debut album, Esther Abrami presents the broad sound panorama of a young generation of classical musicians. The 25-year-old violinist, who was named "Best Influential Star" by Forbes magazine, became known as an influencer on TikTok and Instagram. There, with her creative videos, she reaches millions of young people who discover classical music for themselves. On her debut album with Sony Classical, Esther Abrami brings together what she understands by the broad term "classical" to create a fresh look at the genre. Accompanied by piano or large orchestra, unique new arrangements of familiar classical melodies - from Swan Lake to Paganini Caprice - sit alongside new pieces by young composer and pianist Annelie, Hollywood soundtrack star Jacob Shea and her personal idol, Oscar winner Rachel Portman, among others. "I love the idea of working with living composer's and having a real interaction that hardly exists in classical music. Not to mention, it's great to hear something different, fresh," explains Esther Abrami. With her album, the violinist, who was born in Aix-en-Provence and studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, provides a colorful insight into the world of a new generation of classical musicians beyond traditional clichés. Esther Abrami studies classical violin, is active in animal welfare and as a feminist, was chosen by her mentor Julian Lloyd Webber as one of classical music's "30 under 30" and performs with Katherine Jenkins and Roberto Alagna. At the same time, she is at home on social media, writing music with the electro-producer Worakls and searching for new classical sounds with composers and musicians such as Alexis Ffrench, Alban Claudin, Florian Christl, Anna Barry and Ketan Bhatti. Together with them, she gives Satie, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Ravel, Rachmaninoff and even Bach and Mozart a fresh cell treatment by rearranging "Eine kleine Nachtmusik", the famous violin concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 or "Swan Lake". "These pieces have been recorded so many times that it would be irrelevant to try to do them again if you had nothing new to add. That's what I'm all about - taking these famous melodies and doing something with them that people don't expect." With this, the exceptional musician boldly goes against unwritten laws of the genre and tries to win new listeners. "I don't know if I'm on a mission," Esther Abrami laughs. "But it makes me happy when I can get people excited about something they haven't engaged with before." Just classical music as something exciting and cool. Even in the 21st century. She adds, "I wanted to make an album that shows who I am and that I like to play different kinds of music. I'm very open about that. I want all people to find something they like here." In line with this premise, Esther Abrami also presents her own composition, "Sainte Victoire en sol mineur," a collaboration with producer Worakls, "This piece was a lot of fun. We worked it out at the beginning of the pandemic, when I was visiting my parents in the south of France. That's why it's called 'Saint Victoire' - because they live at the foot of the mountain. I'd like to do more in that direction." On her album, Esther Abrami also bows to her idols, composers Clara Schumann and Amy Beach. The only two original compositions on the album are by them. "These are names that are only familiar to people who are really interested in classical music. I want to change that - because they deserve it and not all great composers were men." Oscar winner Rachel Portman - a great role model of Esther Abrami - has also contributed a composition to the album, rearranging her famous soundtrack to Chocolat.