Ellis Island (due out June 6th, 2025 via Naďve Records) is an odyssey in sound, the story of a pianist with dual origins, Julia Hamos, who, in this very first album, looks at her family roots, American and Hungarian, and displays a longing for adventure.

She looks towards the Hungary of Bartok and Kurtag, engaging in a dialogue with the memory of her ancestors from Transylvania. Originally from the same region as Kurtag, her maternal grandfather knew Ligeti as a child.

This journey with its haunting poetry will lead us also to New York, the pianist’s first home, a place of hope and inspiration, which always feeds her creativity.

György Kurtág
Játékok (selection)
8 Klavierstücke: op. 3

Béla Bartók
6 dances in bulgarian rhythm (from mikrokosmos, Sz.107)
15 hungarian peasant songs, Sz.71

Meredith Monk
ellis island

Charles Mingus
myself when I am real

György Ligeti
fanfare (no. 4 from etudes, book 1)

Franz Schubert
ungarische melodie, D. 817

Combining her American and Hungarian roots with an adventurous spirit to explore the essence of repertoire ranging from Bach to composers living today, Hamos’ new recording opens on 8 Klavierstücke: op. 3; which begins with the sternly creative Inesorabile. Andante con moto, the emotively delicate Calmo, and the embodied Sostenuto, before moving into the prowling Scorrevole, the playfully jagged Prestissimo possibile, the short, yet definitively vaulted Grave, closing on the stoic Adagio and a spirited cascade showcased within Vivo.

Along next is Béla Bartók’s 6 dances in bulgarian rhythm (from mikrokosmos, Sz.107), which begins on the flourishing No. 148, Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm, No. 1 and then we get the beautiful precision of key work shown on No. 149, Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm, No. 2, the confident No. 150, Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm, No. 3, the elegant No. 151, Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm, No. 4, and both the flirtatious No. 152, Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm, No. 5 and the profound No. 153, Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm, No. 6.

We next get Bartók’s 15 hungarian peasant songs, Sz.71, which open with the grand Rubato, the stoic Andante, a poignant Poco rubato and a confidently-sculpted Andante, before the perky Scherzo (Allegro), the determined Ballad. Theme with variations (Andante), the flighty Allegro, a tenderly sweeping Allegretto, the joyful .17 second Allegretto are upon us, the collection rounding out on the studious L’istesso tempo, the sterner fare of Assai moderato, the delightful Allegretto, the resounding Poco piů vivo, the cultured Allegro and finally the all-encompassing Allegrothe.

Then comes Meredith Monk’s simply gorgeous ellis island which is in turn backed seamlessly by Charles Mingus’ esoterically mystical, near ten minute opus myself when I am real, before we are brought forth György Ligeti’s flourishingly alive fanfare (no. 4 from etudes, book 1), the set closing on a mesmerizingly sweeping ambiance lovingly shown by Hamos on Franz Schubert’s ungarische melodie, D. 817.

Purchase Link

www.juliahamos.com