World Fame Violinist Robert Mendoza Ready to Perform Local Songs

By R Ratcharathan KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- World famous violinist, Robert Mendoza who is staging his debut performance in Malaysia, did not rule out the possibility of performing Malaysian songs with his unique style of playing violin in future. “I am just started to explore Malaysia and its music. Maybe I will be playing Malaysian songs if they are interesting in the future,” the Spanish violinist told Bernama after appearing as a guest on Bernama News Channel’s Nine11 programme at Wisma Bernama here Thursday. Mendoza, who is a well-known violinist playing pop songs on a electric violin while dancing, said he has fallen in love with Malaysian food especially ‘Nasi Lemak’ which is served with spicy anchovies. Mendoza, who is here for the first time, has given spectacular performances in the two-day concert titled ‘The Purple Violin’ starting yesterday at Gastro Sentral, Le Meridien Hotel here and on Saturday he will be in Penang, to perform at the Chivas Regal Malaysia: Electronic Theatrical Music. Apart from him, the Electronic Theatrical Music being held from October 20 until December, will also be featuring talented artistes Dennis Yin, Joy Shavini Victor and Jane Victor Solberg. Mendoza’s videos on YouTube has propelled him to international fame, having garnered over 100 million YouTube views while his Facebook fans could be gauged by the over 700,000 followers garnered so far. He first achieved internet fame after playing John Legend’s ‘All of Me’ three years ago and has been playing all the latest hits on his electric violin. Mendoza said he is currently working on a new album and looking forward to have more performances in Malaysia in the future. He began studying music since the age of eight at Elemental Conservatory of Music in Spain, by playing the piano and a year later he took up violin. In 2001, he became part of the Youth Orchestra of Andalucía, and in 2003 exceeded all expectations attaining the first place in the admissions test for the National Youth Orchestra of Spain from more than 200 violinists from around the country. Mendoza was a violinist for the Royal Symphonic Orchestra of Seville before making concert tours with orchestras in Spain, Germany, Portugal, Scotland and United States. -- BERNAMA