Performed by: Nadav Lev, guitar; Fabián Panisello, conductor; Israel Contemporary Players (2025)
Video
Program Note
This electric guitar concerto, written in 2024 during my time in La Herradura, Spain, was composed for my dear friend and guitarist Nadav Lev and the Israel Contemporary Players. The work culminates in a section that invites improvisation over a looping guitar riff with a rhythmic pulse reminiscent of the driving energy in the music of John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, a sound I have long admired.
The title "Mahavishnu" not only pays homage to this influential music but also reaches deeper into its philosophical roots. In Indian thought, "Mahavishnu" symbolises the force that both creates and sustains the universe, embodying eternal wisdom, spiritual transcendence, and cosmic harmony. This theme resonates with me profoundly, representing a universal interconnectedness and a vision of unity that feels especially vital today. Through this title, I aim to reflect these timeless concepts, hoping to inspire listeners to consider the interconnected fabric of our world and our shared existence within it.
Performances
18 Jan 2025 Israel Contemporary Players, Nadav Lev - solo guitar Zucker Hall Tel Aviv
