Ljova - Hailed by Billboard Magazine as one of New Yorks fastest-rising composers and instrumentalists, and by the New York Times as eclectic with an ear for texture... strikingly original and soulful, Ljova (Lev Zhurbin) was born in 1978 in Moscow, Russia, and moved to New York with his parents, composer Alexander Zhurbin and writer Irena Ginzburg, in 1990.
He divides his time between performing as a violist in diverse groups ranging from his own, Ljova and the Kontraband, to string quartets, jazz combos and Gypsy bands; studying and arranging music for Yo-Yo Ma, the Kronos Quartet, Jay-Z and others; and composing original music for film, TV, dance, and the concert stage.
Lamentation
Prior to sketching Lamentation, Ljova watched several news reports and footage of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, whose life tragically ended as he went downhill for his last and fatal run at the opening day of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He grieved for Nodars team, for his mother, and father.
Inspired by that unjust moment, and by his own young fatherhood, Ljova dedicates this piece to grieving parents, whose children perished young, whether by accident or cruel human hand.
Lamentation was premiered by 2VC May 9, 2010 at 6th Street Sundays.