Daniel Hope is concerned about America being torn apart. But: “I’m an optimist,” says the star violinist. And finally, there is always the music.
Classic star Daniel Hope (48) has been a huge America fan since childhood – and remains confident even in the current crisis of US democracy.
“I’m an optimist, so I say yes,” said the Irish-German violin virtuoso when asked if he still had hope for the politically divided USA. “But I also know it won’t be easy. This country is more polarized than ever, it’s totally divided.”
The brutalization of US society “has come to a head – it will take a long time for this wound to heal,” said Hope in an interview with the German Press Agency in Berlin. However, hope always gives him hope “when I experience this enthusiasm and the exuberant love for music. Then I feel the best of the ‘American way of life’ – and that’s not to be taken down either.”
A land of inspiration
America remains a “constant inspiration” for him, he is “downright obsessed” with the country’s music, emphasized the violinist who was born in South Africa and has been living in Berlin with his young family for several years. That’s why he has now recorded the album “America” - with well-known songs by George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein, but also with music by Afro-American composers Florence Price, Sam Cooke and Duke Ellington.
Hope interprets the Gershwin songs (“This music makes me addicted”) with the renowned jazz trio of pianist Marcus Roberts. For Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” he was able to win over the German soul singer Joy Denalane. This song by the US civil rights movement from the 1960s and Samuel Ward’s “America The Beautiful”, which is more than 100 years old, are for him “the two anthems of America, they embody two spheres” – the black and the white.
The 48-year-old star violinist, festival director, talent promoter, author, TV and radio presenter received the Federal Cross of Merit in 2017 for his services to the culture of remembrance in Germany. Hope’s classic albums also regularly hit the pop charts. He has released five records since 2020 alone. “The last two years of the pandemic have actually been very productive for me, at least as far as the studio is concerned,” said the musician.
Source: Stern
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