…
Switzerland
Thomas de Hartmann, Forgotten Ukrainian Composer, Performed at Verbier Festival by Bell and Harding
Herz — Switzerland Desk · · 30s summary · 2 min read
The essentials
On July 23, 2026, violinist Joshua Bell and conductor Daniel Harding performed Thomas de Hartmann's Violin Concerto op. 66 at the Verbier Festival's main tent. Hartmann (1885–1956) was a Ukrainian composer whose concerto is considered an unjustly overlooked masterpiece of 20th-century repertoire. Composed in 1943 during his exile in France, this four-movement concerto serves as a tribute to war victims. The work weaves together Jewish musical motifs, folk themes, and lyrical passages, incorporating quotations such as Glinka's Kamarinskaya, while maintaining constant tension through marked ruptures between soloist and orchestra.
- Bell and Harding performed Hartmann's Violin Concerto op. 66 at Verbier Festival on July 23, 2026.
- Thomas de Hartmann (1885–1956), Ukrainian composer, wrote an unjustly overlooked 20th-century masterpiece.
- Written in 1943 during exile in France, the concerto was conceived as a tribute to war victims.
- The work weaves together Jewish musical motifs, folk themes, and lyricism, citing Glinka's Kamarinskaya.
- The score features ruptures between soloist and orchestra, alternating calm melodies with turbulent passages.
On July 23, 2026, violinist Joshua Bell and conductor Daniel Harding performed Thomas de Hartmann's Violin Concerto op. 66 at the Verbier Festival's main tent, according to Le Temps.
What We Know
Thomas de Hartmann (1885–1956) was a Ukrainian composer. His Violin Concerto op. 66 is considered an unjustly overlooked masterpiece of 20th-century repertoire.
The work was composed in 1943 while Hartmann was in exile in France. It unfolds across four movements.
A Klezmer Concerto as Tribute to War Victims
The concerto was conceived as a "klezmer concerto" — named after the instrumental musical tradition of Ashkenazi Jews, developed from the 15th century with roots in Middle Eastern and Central European music — in tribute to war victims.
The work interweaves Jewish musical motifs and folk themes, including a quotation from Glinka's Kamarinskaya.
A Score Between Instability and Lyricism
The score orchestrates marked ruptures between the soloist and orchestra. It alternates calm melodies, abrupt rhythmic breaks, and mournful lyricism, maintaining constant instability throughout the work.
- 1885Birth of Thomas de Hartmann.
- 1943Composition of Violin Concerto op. 66 during Thomas de Hartmann's exile in France.
- 1956Death of Thomas de Hartmann.
- July 23, 2026Joshua Bell and Daniel Harding perform the concerto at the Verbier Festival.
What Remains Uncertain
Glinka's Kamarinskaya, cited among the work's themes, could not be verified from an available source during the preparation of this article.
Who was Thomas de Hartmann?
Thomas de Hartmann (1885–1956) was a Ukrainian composer. His Violin Concerto op. 66, written in 1943 during his exile in France, is considered an unjustly overlooked masterpiece of 20th-century repertoire.
Topics
Related articles
Latest articles
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to react.
