A Wind Instruments Extravaganza at the Enescu Soirees

The next recital of our Enescu Soirees Online series presents a true wind instruments extravaganza offered by German trumpet player Elisabeth Fessler and Romanian-American trombonist Cristian Ganicenco. The varied program features works by, among others, Mozart, Purcell, Beethoven, Ravel and Piazzolla to conclude with a piece by James Stephenson, recorded by the two musicians as a world premiere in celebration of President Joe Biden’s inauguration. 

Watch on our FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, IGTV and WEBSITE on Thursday, May 13 at 2 p.m. EST or anytime later!

Program:

W.A. Mozart: "Rondo alla Turca"

Henry Purcell: "Dido’s Lament” aria, from the opera "Dido and Aeneas"

Maurice Ravel: "Pavane for a Dead Princess"

FG Brass: "Frame", for trumpet/trombone and Loop Station

L. van Beethoven: "Pathetique Sonata", second movement

Harold Arlen: "Over the Rainbow"

Astor Piazzolla: "Oblivion"

Elisabeth Fessler: "Down the stream", for trumpet/trombone and Loop Station

James Stephenson: "Fanfare for Democracy"

In 2017, Elisabeth Fessler and Cristian Ganicenco founded FG Brass, dedicated to multitrack recordings, loop station live performances and solo performances with orchestra and various other ensembles. As soloists they performed in Germany, Romania, Canada, and the United States. Together Elisabeth and Cristian released the albums "Across the Ocean“ and "Christmas with a Swing". Moreover, they created a new live performance concept, called "Loop the Classics", which introduces the audiences to various styles of music, from baroque, classical, jazz and fusion to new compositions in the unique combination of trumpet, trombone, and loop station.

Trumpet player Elisabeth Fessler has been a full time member of the Harmonic Brass Quintet since 2014. She performed with the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker in the 2012/13 season, and with the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen in the 2013/14 season. As a guest lecturer, Ms. Fessler has given masterclasses at several universities in the US, UK, South Africa and Europe. As of 2018, she is Lecturer of Trumpet and Music Education at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen. She earned degrees in Trumpet Performance while studying with Professor Wolfgang Guggenberger, and Baroque Trumpet with Professor Patrick Henrichs. Additionally she received guidance from Erich Rinner, former Solo Trumpet with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Reinhold Friedrich, former Solo Trumpet with Frankfurt Radio Orchestra and Professor at Hochschule fur Musik Karlsruhe, Gábor Tarkövi, Principal Trumpet with the Berlin Philharmonic, Kristian Steenstrup, Professor at Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark, Klaus Schuhwerk, Professor at Academy of Music in Basel, and University of Music and performing Arts in Frankfurt, and Frits Damrow, Professor at University of the Arts in Zurich. Elisabeth Fessler also holds degrees in Music Education and Jazz Performance.

Cristian Ganicenco has distinguished himself as an international soloist and Principal Trombonist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, which he was appointed in 1999. Cristian Ganicenco holds degrees from the National Academy of Music (Bucharest, Romania), Carnegie Mellon University, and attended Rutgers University. During those years, he studied with Byron McCulloh and Joseph Alessi. In October 2003, he made his solo debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra performing Creston’s “Fantasy” for Trombone and Orchestra. His solo CD album “Beyond Oblivion” received critical acclaim in the American Record Guide. Ganicenco has performed extensively around the world and has participated in numerous international music festivals, including Salzburg, Edinburgh, Munich, Sao Paolo, Milan, and Paris. In demand as a recitalist and lecturer, he has given master classes at universities and colleges throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Ganicenco performs exclusively on Edwards Trombones and Greg Black Mouthpieces.