Each Project
The mandolin, an instrument straddling the classical and folk worlds, is presented from a fresh perspective by Avi Avital's ensemble. His 'Between Worlds Ensemble' challenges the boundaries between classical and folk music. Each project is dedicated to a specific geographical region—the Iberian Peninsula, Southern Italy, the Black Sea, and others—painting a rich musical portrait with vibrant colors and subtle nuances. Classical composers are featured alongside traditional music, which often inspired their work, together with renowned folk singers and instrumentalists as guest musicians. The ensemble comprises ten international musicians whose diverse backgrounds and remarkable versatility allow them to move seamlessly from the familiar classical sphere into the rhythms and textures of folk traditions. For Avital, this project is deeply personal—each piece on his album holds special significance in his own story or reflects his artistic convictions. He plays with the mandolin's dual image as a classical, baroque instrument and as a folk instrument situated between these worlds.