Irish violinist Daniel Hope has released his new album, Irish Roots. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
Irish Roots brings together traditional classics such as Danny Boy with works by Turlough O'Carolan, Ina Boyle and Ross Daly, as well as Kusser, Roseingrave and Vivaldi Daniel Hope is joined by, among others, James and Jeanne Galway, Rea Garvey,
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Brought up on stories of his paternal great-grandfather Daniel McKenna, who left Ireland in the 1890s to build a new life in South Africa, Hope has always been intrigued by Irish music and culture.
As well as making a documentary for ARTE and WDR entitled Celtic Dreams: Daniel Hope's Hidden Irish History, first aired in spring 2022, the violinist has been delving deeper into the connections between folk and classical music in Ireland, informed by performance experiences with award-winning Irish band Lúnasa and the research of musicologist Olivier Fourés.
"Olivier even told me about unique versions of Vivaldi’s music preserved in the Library of Trinity College Dublin as slip jigs, which were probably only played in Ireland," recalls Daniel.
"I began thinking about how to broaden a programme to include traditional Irish tunes like Molly Malone and Danny Boy and Baroque pieces that were popular in Ireland and began testing some ideas in concert over some years. Irish Roots grew out of that".
Daniel was recently appointed as the next Intendant and Artistic Director of the Gstaad Menuhin Festival and Academy, a role he assumes as of 1 November 2025.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
Musician, Irish, foodie.
How would you describe your music?
Passionate and full of storytelling.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Yehudi Menuhin, Sting, U2, Lúnasa.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
The Police.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Reggatta de Blanc by The Police.
What's your favourite song right now?
Our latest recording of Morning Nightcap with Lúnasa, recorded at Windmill Lane in Dublin.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"Now Paul is a real estate novelist, Who never had time for a wife, And he's talkin′ with Davy who's still in the navy, And probably will be for life" - Piano Man by Billy Joel.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The Passenger by Iggy Pop.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Here or my website.
Alan Corr
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