David Hernando Conducts the Orchestral Score for The Violinist
am delighted to share my involvement in The Violinist (2026), the acclaimed animated feature directed by Ervin Han and Raúl García, for which I conducted the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra during the recording of its original symphonic score.
The film has received major international recognition, including the Cristal for a Feature Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, while its original score was honored with the SACEM Award for Best Original Music.
A Score Connecting East and West
The music for The Violinist was co-written by Singaporean composer Ricky Ho and Spanish composer Isabel Latorre, bringing together different musical and cultural influences in a score that plays a central role in the film's emotional narrative.
Set against the dramatic events of 1941 Singapore and the Second World War, the story follows two young violinists, Kai and Fei, whose lives are separated by war and whose journey unfolds across several decades.
The score mirrors that passage through time, moving from the optimism and innocence of youth through the tension of wartime occupation and ultimately towards the nostalgia and emotional depth of later life.
Conducting this music required shaping those very different dramatic worlds while preserving a sense of continuity throughout the score.
Orchestra and Solo Violin
At the heart of the soundtrack is the relationship between the symphony orchestra and the solo violin, performed by Singaporean violinist Joy Yong.
The dialogue between soloist and orchestra gives the score much of its distinctive character, moving between intimacy and a broader symphonic sound as the emotional scale of the story develops.
It was a great pleasure to work on this project with Ricky Ho, Isabel Latorre and the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, and to contribute to a film in which music is such an essential part of the storytelling.
David Hernando RicoOrchestra Conductor & Symphonic Recording Producer
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