'Art of the Mandolin' is Avi Avital's first recording program consisting exclusively of pieces originally written for the mandolin. His personal take on the best existing repertoire for the instrument, and a showcase presentation of the fullest spectrum of its expressive potential. From Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Mandolins in G Major through Beethoven's seldom-performed Adagio in E-flat Major to contemporary pieces commissioned over the last few years by Avi himself - works by composers like Antonio Vivaldi, Domenico Scarlatti, Ludwig van Beethoven, Paul Ben-Haim, David Bruce, Giovanni Sollima, Hans Werner Henze. This project represents a return to the heart of the instrument from a very long journey, which had Avi and his mandolin travel to the terrain of the violin, the harpsichord, the flute. © Deutsche Grammophon