The United Strings of Europe and artistic director Julian Azkoul are devoted to developing engaging programs that blend the familiar with the new and encourage the discovery of new repertoire. On Hommages, the ensemble presents a program featuring the world premiere recordings of Dobrinka Tabakova’s Organum Light, inspired by Einstein’s quantum theory of light, Olli Mustonen’s Apotheosis – In memoriam Pablo Casals, inspired by Bach’s chorale preludes, and Azkoul’s arrangement of Stravinsky’s neo-classical ballet Apollon musagète. The album includes Osvaldo Golijov’s Last Round, a tribute to Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzolla, and Olli Mustonen’s Second Nonet, in which we hear echoes of the Balkans, music from the Romantic period, and Nordic moods.