ŠPORCL P. + ROMANO STILO - GIPSY WAY / P.Šporcl violin (2008)

The violin virtuoso Pavel Šporcl's new CD captures his two unique concerts with the Slovak Gipsy cimbalom ensemble Romano Stilo. The events were truly extraordinary not only due to these superlative musicians combining their forces but also the repertoire (a startling departure for Šporcl) and the atmosphere on the stage and in the auditorium alike. Just as Pavel Šporcl steps out with zest from the domain of classical music into other genres so Romano Stilo cannot be considered an orthodox cimbalom band. Besides Gipsy, Hungarian and Romanian folk music, the visitors to the concerts heard compositions by Pablo Sarasate, Johannes Brahms and Aram Khachaturian inspired by this music, all spiced up with a soupcon of jazz. Šporcl plays the repertoire, allegedly the exclusive reserve of musicians with Gipsy blood coursing through their veins, so masterfully and convincingly that one is tempted to trace his family tree. Romano Stilo are splendid partners for him and it is a real joy to hear the musical sparks fly.

(Supraphon 2008)