An Andrés Segovia Award winner (Música en Compostela, Spain), Israeli-born Nadav Lev has earned his rightful place among today’s most gifted young guitar virtuosos. In this fascinating album (his first for Delos), Lev has assembled a highly varied program of music by six of the finest among Israel’s current crop of young composers: Gilad Cohen, Yair Klartag, Jonathan Keren, Guy Barash, Ronnie Reshef and Nadav himself. We hear music ranging from lovely vocal treatments of ancient Ladino Jewish songs (with violin) to edgy and gripping works (some including live electronics) that cross into the realm of the avant-garde.
Among the musicians, Nadav leads the way with his stunning work on both classical and electric guitar, ranging from jaw-dropping virtuosity to lyrical and playfully saucy interpretations. His team of global “A-list” collaborators includes the brilliant Mivos String Quartet, violin virtuoso Miranda Cuckson, live electronics wizard Guy Barash, and three exceptional sopranos: Tehila Nini-Goldstein and mezzos Rinat Shaham and Re’ut Ben Ze’ev. All is captured in Ear-boggling sound that’s fully in keeping with Delos’ lofty standards.