Charlie Siem Under The Stars

On his debut release for Sony Classical, London-born violinist Charlie Siem presents a programme of sparking character pieces. "Under the Stars" is the title of the 28-year-old's album, featuring both original compositions from the violin repertoire and arrangements from the pen of legendary violinist Fritz Kreisler, among them works by Debussy, Brahms and Tchaikovsky. Siem, who plays a 1735 Guarneri del Gesù previously owned by Yehudi Menuhin, is accompanied by the Munich Radio Orchestra under the baton of Paul Goodwin. His new CD showcases the full range of his musical skills: the stylistically varied and technically demanding programme shows him to be a master of both sensitivity and brilliance. The works chosen by Siem, who first picked up a violin at the age of three and who counts Shlomo Mintz among his teachers, range from the popular elegy "Salut d'amour" by English composer Edward Elgar to Hubay's brilliant "Carmen" Fantasy, based on theme's from Bizet's famous opera. Indeed, this is just one of many pieces in this recital that are based on songs or arias; others are Norwegian composer Ole Bull's tender folk song "Shepherdess's Sunday", Gabriel Fauré's chanson "Après un rêve" and Kreisler's popular and striking "La Gitana". Charlie Siem was inspired to write his own composition "Canopy", which appears here on disc for the first time with accompaniment from the English Chamber Orchestra, by a group of tree climbers who daringly clamber to the tops of trees, also known as canopies. Siem says of the work: "'Canopy' stands for the short-lived beauty of the moment where the climber on the one hand is happy to have conquered an ancient tree, but on the other hand he also knows that the much more dangerous descent lies ahead. I found this image very romantic, and it indirectly provides the roots for my composition". Among Siem's musical partners are classical artists such as the conductors Yannick Nezet-Seguin and Roger Norrington, the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, but also big names from the world of pop like Bryan Adams or members of The Who. In addition to his career as a musician, Charlie Siem has also appeared in several campaigns for international brands such as Armani and Dior.