The music fantasia in film and dance

The recital of Slovenian violinist Anja Bukovec and Pianist Igor Vicentic

Place: Tianqiao Theatre, Bejing, China

Date:  5th November, 2011  19:30-21:30

Programme:  

Henryk Wieniawski: Obertass Mazurka                                                                                                                                   

Henryk Wieniawski: Dudziarz Mazurka                                                                  

Alojz Srebotnjak: Slovenian folk dances           

Camille Saint-Saens: Danse macabre op.40      
 
Astor Piazzolla: Soledad                     

Astor Piazzolla: La muerte del Angel                                                                                         
 
Astor Piazzolla: Milonga del Angel            
                                                                       
Astor Piazzolla: Escualo           

--- Intermission ---
             
Vic Mizzy, Marc Shaiman: Tango from »Addams Family Values«            

Bojan Adamič, Jaka Pucihar: Spring yearning from Slovenian movie »Vesna«      

John Williams: 2 pieces from »Schindler's list«: Theme                                           
                                                                      Jewish town                           

Aaron Copland: Hoe Down from »Rodeo«                                                             
 
James Newton Howard: Hidalgo Suite from »Hidalgo«                         

Leonard Bernstein, arr. Raimundo Penaforte: Suite from »West Side Story«: I Feel Pretty

BIOGRAPHY

Anja Bukovec ————  Violinist

Anja is a superb musician and popular media personality. Her technical perfection is complemented by a recognizable style, unique interpretation and communication with the audience. She is known and respected person, who had been raising the figure of cultural ambassador by studying in Ljubljana, Prague, Cologne and Vienna. She performs as a soloist, wins international awards and fascinates the audiences all over the world. Highly talented soloist openly speaks about her view of the world and events happening around her, and wins competitions around the world.

She was born in Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia, where she started with violin study lessons at age of five. When she was thirteen years old she moved to Prague to study with professor Jaroslav Foltyn at Music Conservatory in Prague and two years later passed the entrance examination at Prof. Igor Ozim, one of the greatest music teachers of our time. She pursued her studies as his protegee in Vienna and continued at Academy of Music Cologne where she graduated in year 2001. Soon after her diploma in Cologne she earned herself a Master’s degree from Music Academy in Ljubljana at Prof. Vasilij Meljnikov. She won many prizes at young violinists competitions.

Anja Bukovec is respected guest at many ensembles and orchestras and although very young, she had already performed with Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, RTV Slovenia Symphonic Orchestra, cooperated with many conductors as are En Shao, Georg Pehlivanian, Marko Letonja, Uroš Lajovic, Anton Nanut, Alan Buribajev and Alexander Walker. As a soloist and member of the chamber music orchestras she had regularly performed in Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Serbia, Croatia and has also performed in Romania, Australia and China.

Year 2007 was a turning point for Anja. Her debut album, Gemini, was greatly reviewed by music critics and became best seller among classical albums in Slovenia and the very first classical album succeeded to place itself on the top of the Slovenian music charts. On the concert tour, which followed the release of her debut album, Anja proved that classical music can reach and satisfy very wide range of listeners, If selected carefully and being vivaciously presented. Sold out New Year concert at the Union Hall in Ljubljana justified the expectations and her excellent performance,

In 2008 she performed at the elite venues as are National Opera in Cairo, National Opera in Tel Aviv, Kennedy Center in Washington, Cone Duque in Madrid, Palacio Foz in Lisbon, Konzerthaus in Berlin, St. Cecilia’s Hall and Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, ETC. She released her second solo album titled Follow and had the honor to perform for Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II.

In 2009 Anja released a long planned project named Chameleon which features best home and international film music themes. On this project she was joined by RTV Slovenia Symphonic Orchestra under the baton of world renowned conductor En Shao and also by multiple BAFTA Award winner Christopher Gunning, internationally renowned composer. At the third consecutive New Year’s concert, Anja was joined by tenor Janez Lotrič, star of the world’s opera stages.

She proves, on a regular basis, that classical music is not reserved only for connoisseurs and that wide audiences can be reached, If presented in a kind way that can reach both younger and older generations.

She always enjoys excellent expert reviews, often being compared with the world’s greatest names. Her concerts are sold out, New Year’s events are synonymous for exclusivity and, due to special request, she had even performed for Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II.

Achievements

2009 - release of the solo album named Chameleon (accompanied by RTV Slovenia Symphonic orchestra, conductor En Shao)
2009 - performed for the Slovenia Republic’s president Dr. Danilo Tuerk
2008 - release of the solo album named Follow
2008 - performed for Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II
2007 - release of the solo album named Gemini
2007 - ambassador extraordinaire for Pika festival, largest Slovenian children festival
2006 - second place award at the international violinists competition in Neustadt am der Weinstrasse, Germany
2005 - start of collaboration with Terrafolk group
2004 - “Slovene of the year” nomination
2004 - first prize at the largest young musicians festival Young Euro Classic in Berlin, Germany
2000 - collaboration with Alban Berg Quartet

Media Comments

"World premiere was a refreshment to the ears and soul. Anja Bukovec impressed the audience with her temperament which can rarely be seen and heard on the concert stages and at the same time she had impressed with the “Pop-star” glamor. Her playing and performance were simply amazing. As listening to Gidon Kremer.”

-------------Lausitzer Rundschau, DE, 2009 (Staats Teater, Cottbus)

“Anja Bukovec, passionate and young, won the gold medal awarding her performance and new composition at the festival, by vivid preformance over two 20 minutes long movements and did It in the spirit of true athletes.”
Berliner Morgenpost, DE, 2004 (Young Euro Classic Festival, Berlin)
“Perfection, temperament and obvious joy to play.”
--------------------------Haaretz, Israel, 2008 (National opera, Tel Aviv)

“Anja Bukovec’s violin playing is distinctive, highly virtuosic and hand in hand with error-free performance. She is dedicated and disciplined.”
------------Washington Times, USA, 2008 (Kennedy Center, Washington

Igor Vicentic —— Pianist

Igor Vićentić as a pianist continues his family’s music tradition. He concluded his studies with honours at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana (Slovenia) under the guidance of prof. Aci Bertoncelj. He continued his studies attending masterclasses by Jacob Lateiner (Julliard School, NY) and Boris Petrushansky (Academia pianistica, Imola). In 1999 he has been offered a grant to pursue his studies at Trinity College of Music in London where he obtained a Master degree in Performance Practice and a Postgraduate Advance Diploma.

He is a prize winner of Mozart competition in Ljubljana in 1993 and slovenian national musical youth competiton in 1995 and 1998. His concert portfolio includes numerous recitals and chamber music concerts throughout Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Bolgaria, Spain and Great Britain. As a soloist he performed with Contemporary Music Group (TCM), Orchestra Simfonica Adriatica and Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra.

He also engages frequently in stylistically diverse music projects and multimedia spectacles collaborating with various slovenian performers, composers and bands. Significant is his work as a studio producer which lead to numerous national and international releases. He has also recorded soundtracks for film and theatre. At the moment he holds a position of a teacher and accompanist at the Conservatory for Music and Ballet in Ljubljana.