“Rare all of those who have a real talent, more rare yet those who dare to be themselves.” — Pablo Casals to Thomas de Hartmann in a letter dated December 19, 1947.
Ukrainian composer Thomas de Hartmann (1884[1]-1956) was widely acclaimed in Russia at the turn of the 20th century, and he enjoyed a successful career in France during the 1930s and 1940s. His unique voice brought together many styles to produce a colorful and vibrant catalog. However, since his death his music has fallen into obscurity.
The Thomas de Hartmann Project was begun in 2006 with the aim of bringing the composer’s music back to the listening audience. Performances, recordings, lecture recitals, and articles have been employed to accomplish this task. The work is ongoing. Thomas de Hartmann Inc is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corp.
Pentatone releases “Thomas de Hartmann Rediscoved” featuring violinist Joshua Bell, conductor Dalia Stasevska, and the INSO-Lviv Symphony performing the premiere studio recording of de Hartmann’s violin concerto. The album also includes de Hartmann’s cello concerto performed by soloist Matt Haimovitz.
