Despite all the restrictions, the summer evenings can still be enjoyable thanks to the recitals of the Enescu Soirees Online, which continue with the renowned Fatu Duo, made of two outstanding musicians: Romanian-American Cristian Fatu – violin and Victoria Fatu-Martyrosian – piano. Opened by the passionate Chaconne attributed to Baroque composer Tomaso Vitali, the program’s pathos and exuberance are sustained by some of the 20th century’s most memorable pieces.
Watch on our FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE and BLOG from Thursday, July 16, 7 p.m. EDT or anytime later.
Program:
T. Vitali - Chaconne
M. Ravel - Tzigane
G. Enescu - Ballade
G. Dinicu - Hora Stacatto
Cristian Fatu is an award winning violinist based in Los Angeles, member of the New West Symphony Orchestra and freelancer in the studio recording industry. He has performed in many TV and film productions as well as recordings with various artists in the iconic Hollywood studios such as Capitol Records, Fox Studios, Warner Brothers Studios and others around town. Between 2014-2018 he was the first violinist of the Montclaire String Quartet, Adjunct Faculty at the West Virginia State University and concertmaster of theCharleston Chamber Orchestra. In February 2019 he premiered Matthew Jackfert's Violin Concerto "A Black Bear Awakens in Winter" at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with the Charleston Chamber Orchestra. He is a top prize winner at more than 25 national and international violin competitions in his native Romania and abroad including First Prize at the 2008 Kingsville International Competition, TX and the Grand Prize and First Prize at the 2000 “Remember Enescu” International Violin Competition, Romania. Since 2013 he is a member of the Violin Society of America Oberlin Acoustics Workshop where he explores the physics of string instruments with fellow musicians, scientists and violin makers. More about Cristian Fatu HERE.
Pianist Victoria Fatu has been recognized internationally for performances of deep musical expression, charismatic temperament and sparkling technique. She has scored victories in numerous international competitions and has received multiple grants from major music foundations. In 1998 she won First Prize at the AMSA World Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Cincinnati, a prize that included a solo recital performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2001 she was a grant recipient from both the Vladimir Spivakov International Foundation and the Aram Khachaturyan International Scholarship Foundation. She was awarded the Excellence Prize by the President of the Russian Federation in both 2001 and 2002, and in the latter year she also received the "Youth of the Century Award" as Young Classical Musician of the Year. Recent awards include Second Prize at the 2007 Young Concert Artists Competition (New York City), the Sviatoslav Richter Prize at the Vladimir Krainev Competition (Ukraine), Diploma Prize at the Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition (Russia), Special Prize at the Vladimir Horowitz International Piano Competition (Ukraine), Laureate of the World Charity Program "New Names"(Russia) and Winner of the Concerto Aria Competition (Kansas City, Missouri), among others.
