Franz Hummel, composition and piano

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Franz Hummel was born in 1939 and is one of today’s most renowned and original European composers. In his childhood, he was discovered, supported and encouraged by Richard Strauss, Eugen Papst, Hans Knappertsbusch and Elly Ney, and subsequently became a pianist (although he had started to compose at the age of seven). He gave concerts throughout Europe and the USA, making over 60 LP recordings that encompass almost the entire classical and romantic repertoire, as well as many modern works. His last major tour as a pianist was in 1973 through what was then the USSR. From 1973 on, he dedicated himself to composition and only gave sporadic concerts. Hummel’s “farewell concert” in New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1996, received a standing ovation and Kurt Masur, who was present at this concert, expressed his admiration for Hummel and his partner, the violinist Liana Issakadze.

  Alexander Suleiman, cello

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"Alexander Suleiman is one of the most interesting and versatile musicians that I have met. He is not only a brilliant virtuoso but also a profoundly philosophical interpreter of the entire cello repertoire. His music is language in the best sense of the word; he never "plays" just to please. His musical spirit is universal and not just bound to the perspective of a string player. He moves in undiscovered regions of the contemporary world, inspires, questions, experiments and enriches everything that he gets his fingers on with that quantum individuality that makes his playing so sensational and convincing..." (Franz Hummel)

Alexander Suleiman studied with Eldar Issakadze, Daniil Shafran and Natalia Gutman. Suleiman is one of the most interesting and individual musicians of his generation. He has played with well-known orchestras throughout the world, where he has a reputation as an unusual and original interpreter. But in addition to these performances, he is also strongly motivated by cultural and political interests and is a committed ambassador of European musical culture to the Arab world, Jordan and Israel as well as Russia, the Caucasian countries, Asia, Africa and South America.
www.alexander-suleiman.com

  Patricia Hoy, Piano

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"Powerful," "passionate" and "sensuous," were words chosen by the press to describe pianist Patricia Hoy's performances during her most recent concert tour. Ms. Hoy is no stranger to such accolades, having been described by the Los Angeles Times as possessing a "pleasing blend of romantic reverie and disciplined direction demonstrating excellence throughout (Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1)." Her concert schedule for the current season will include two tours of Germany, including a performance of the Beethoven Triple Concerto, performances across Canada as well as several recitals both as a solo recitalist and chamber player throughout Asia and the Middle East.  www.patriciahoy.com

  Yana Reznik, MM

piano
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Ms. Reznik performed a sold-out Carnegie/Weill Hall solo and ensemble debut in New York in 2004 as a winner of the Artists International Competition. Her ensemble performance featured invited members of the St. Petersburg String Quartet in a performance of the Frank Piano Quintet. The evening also featured one world premiere by Ruben Yesayan. She has also appeared at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall and performed Mendelssohn's Double Concerto under the baton of Konstantin Orberlian and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra at Moscow Conservatory's Grand Hall.  www.yanareznik.com

  Aroussiak Baltaian, violin

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“Emerging as if a highly burnished and glowing ruby”, violinist Aroussiak Baltaian has gained an international attention through her extensive appearances as a prominent recitalist, soloist, chamber musician and recording artist.
Ms. Baltaian is a Grand and top prize winner of numerous national and international competitions including the MTNA Collegiate Competition (USA), the “Aram Khachaturyan “ International Competition (USA), the “Rudolfo Lipizer Prize” International Competition ( Italy), the “ MauriceWarshaw Prize” Competition in Great Britain and the “Yaroslav Kotzian” International Violin Competition in the Czech Republic where she was also awarded the honorary citizenship of the city.

  Liana Isakadze, violin

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Liana Isakadze was already a musician by the age of three, having taught herself to play piano and to compose. She became a violinist by pure chance. When she was seven, scheduled for an examination at the piano faculty, she caught a cold and had to postpone her performance for a week. However, the next week`' s auditions were for violinists only. Determined to become a musician as early as possible she played the violin instead and was immediately accepted by Prof. Leo Shiukashvili as his pupil. www.lianaisakadze.com

  Gloria Lum, cello

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Cellist GLORIA LUM, a native of Berkeley, California, attended both the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, graduating from the latter institution magna cum laude. A student of Gabor Rejto and Ronald Leonard, she was a member of the Oakland Symphony and the Denver Symphony before joining the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1985.