Composer Sophia Jani and violinist Teresa Allgaier have unveiled their new album, Six Pieces For Solo Violin, under Squama Recordings. This album, composed by Jani between 2020 and 2023, challenges the traditional notion of simplicity associated with the violin, as performed by Allgaier.
“In October 2020, Teresa and I began weekly meetings to explore the violin and establish the framework for our project,” Jani explains. “We started with an electronic sound concept, but ultimately embraced a purist approach, focusing solely on the solo violin, resulting in our first piece, ‘Triads’.”
Sophia Jani, based in Munich, is the composer-in-residence with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra from 2023 to 2025. The DSO premiered her orchestral work Flare (2021) in Munich on June 9 at the Isarphilharmonie during their European tour. Jani’s compositions have recently been performed across the U.S. by the New Jersey Symphony, Bang on a Can, pianist Eunbi Kim, and the Goldmund Quartet, among others.
Violinist Teresa Allgaier seamlessly blends classical contemporary music with experimental pop. She collaborates with emerging composers and bands, performs with the string ensemble Kontai Ensemble, and writes for her Chamber Pop duo Fallwander. As a soloist, Allgaier has performed with various orchestras, interpreting concertos by Bach, Bruch, Mendelssohn, Khachaturian, Pärt, and Riley.
Together, Jani and Allgaier co-founded and direct Feet Become Ears, a platform dedicated to commissioning, presenting, and celebrating contemporary chamber music.