Portrait: Summer Evenings No. 1

Esther Abrami – From childhood to the present day

The violin wasn’t just another hobby, like acting. Playing the violin was a very serious matter for me right from the start. Even though I’d once imagined being a florist, I very quickly decided I wanted to be a violinist when I grew up. It was my favourite activity, and that choice felt like a foregone conclusion – the most important thing in my life. At first, I found it easy, but hard work was the key to my success. I did sometimes feel discouraged, as it’s a very competitive world. But I knew I was in the right place.

Social media has helped me stand out and get noticed by Sony – the record label I’ve signed my various albums with – as well as by concert bookers. But after that, it took a lot of hard work to turn that into something tangible, because being well-known on social media is one thing, but turning that recognition into people listening to my music on streaming platforms and coming to my concerts is another matter entirely. Let’s just say that social media has propelled me forward. It’s a form of exposure that knows no barriers or limits.

My desire to promote classical music dates back to my time at the Royal College of Music in London. I was very surprised by the lack of interest in classical music amongst young students. Very few young people listened to it. Ever since then, I have always wanted to understand why, and above all, how I might encourage them to listen to it. It is, in fact, a deep commitment that shapes the way I live out my passion.

Another of my commitments is to showcase, through my music, the female composers who have inspired me. Right from my very first album, I included female composers. The album Women was a project I’d had in mind for a very long time. On stage, I interweave storytelling about women’s lives with musical pieces. It’s quite funny to see the impact this has on the audience, and particularly on women. It makes me smile. Women is a tribute to these female composers, not all of whom achieved fame. The Brazilian pianist and conductor Chiquinha Gonzaga has had a particularly profound influence on my career. I was deeply moved by her courage, because back then (she was born in 1857) things weren’t so straightforward for a woman. She wrote over 2,000 works, including the famous song ‘O’ Abre Alas’. She presented herself as a free woman and fought for her rights throughout her life. She was fortunate enough to be recognised during her lifetime. I myself am deeply committed to this freedom, whether in the way I perform on stage, in my artistic choices, or in my own compositions.

I’ve just released the first single from my upcoming album, which is due out on 9 October, in which I’ll be exploring all the facets of love, both positive and negative. This isn’t an album that celebrates romantic love. It’s an album for which I’ve written a suite for violin and orchestra comprising nine compositions. It’s my most ambitious body of work as a composer, with each piece exploring a different situation or emotion centred on love!

The evening of 8 July 2026