UK-based French violinist Esther Abrami has today released her new single ‘Ravel Variation’ (Arr. for Violin & Piano after Pavane pour une infante défunte, M. 19), composed by French composer, Maurice Ravel (1875-1937).
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Recorded earlier this year at The Stoller Hall in Manchester where she was again joined by pianist Iyad Sughayer, Esther deliberately chose music by French composer Maurice Ravel as an homage to her own French heritage. Abrami explains: “I have always had a deep affection for French composers, especially Maurice Ravel. His music has always really touched me. I turn to it whenever I feel stressed or anxious, as it gives me peace. His music has a very subtle charm mixed with a purity and innocence that also gives it a sense of nostalgia. I hope to add my own voice here to this elegant and timeless classic”.
The ‘Ravel Variation’ follows hot on the heels of Esther Abrami’s recent debut single which showcased the work of composer, Clara Schumann and was released to coincide with International Women’s Day.
Esther Abrami’s new single is complemented by a poignant animated video, inspired by a true story from Esther’s own life. It depicts a young violinist rescuing an abandoned kitten to the mellow sound of the violin. Esther is known for her dedication to the protection of cats and she often provides a welcome ‘host home’ for her local cat shelter.
About the video, she says: “With one of my rescue kittens in particular, I created a really special bond. I named him ‘Ravel’ since he loved being with me when I played the violin, which can be for several hours a day. He used to jump or climb on me, trying by any means possible to get closer to the violin. This video is inspired by his antics”.
In 2019 Esther Abrami became the first classical musician ever nominated in the Social Media Superstar category at the Global Awards. Through TikTok and Instagram she has welcomed a whole new audience into her musical world, sharing welcome practice and sight-reading videos together with tips and helpful techniques and advice for aspiring young musicians.
She is as equally at home in the classical world as when covering modern hits or challenging herself to learn how to play songs in an hour only (See her version of Griff’s ‘Black Hole’). So far, her passion for music has united more than 270k followers on TikTok, 220k followers on Instagram and 100k followers on YouTube.
Esther Abrami studied at the Royal College of Music and was awarded a full scholarship for a Master’s degree at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She plays a fine Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin, kindly loaned to her through the Beare’s International Violin Society. She is already well on her way to being acknowledged as one of the most promising young classical music artists of her generation.
