PlaCello Ensemble: Overtures to (Re)Open Everything

Intrepid cellist Răzvan Suma's latest project, PlaCello Ensemble, formed with other three younger cellists, Ștefan Cazacu, Ella Bokor and Mircea Marian, has put up a program of sparkling baroque and classical overtures  by Charpentier, Mozart, Rossini, and Händel. In Suma's words: "This is all about new beginnings. As operas begin with overtures, we hope that this is the coming back of the world as it used to be." A no better way to prepare for the return to life’s new normal.

Watch on our FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE and BLOG from Thursday, June 18, 7 p.m. EDT or anytime later.

Program:

M.A. Charpentier (arr. Mladen Spasinovici) - Te Deum

G.F. Händel (arr. Mladen Spasinovici) - Rinaldo

W.A. Mozart (arr. Blaise Dejardin) - The Magic Flute

G. Rossini (arr. Douglas B. Moore) - The Barber of Seville

W.A. Mozart  (arr. Douglas B. Moore) - The Marriage of Figaro

Soloist of Romanian Radio Orchestras and professor at the National University of Music in Bucharest, RĂZVAN SUMA has an outstanding international career with over 1,000 concerts and recitals performed on all continents. With a staggering discography of 12 CDs, he is considered one of the most prolific Romanian cellists. Since 2006, he has promoted, organized and played in numerous musical projects. Launched in 2012, "Do You Like Bach?" is one of Suma’s most successful initiatives. Its success prompted him to continue with “Do You Like Brahms?" (2014), "Do You Like Tango?" (2015) "Do You Like SCHU / bert / mann?" (2016), "Do You Like Beethoven?" (2017). In 2018, he launched "Do You Like Cello ?", which signaled a new artistic approach.

ŞTEFAN CAZACU is an exceptional cellist who performed on prestigious national and international stages. Born in 1994, he began his musical training with his father, the distinguished Romanian cellist Marin Cazacu. Ştefan graduated from the National University of Music in Bucharest under the guidance of Professor Răzvan Suma and from the University of Music in Vienna. His talent has been rewarded by numerous awards at national competitions. He has given recitals in Romania, Holland, Israel, Austria, Hungary, and Germany and collaborated as a soloist with well-known orchestras.

ELLA BOKOR is a cellist who completely embraces the concept of chamber music, being a founding member of Duo Cello Jaya and Ludens Piano Trio. Together with the Duo Cello Jaya she promoted, throughout Romania, the repertoire for two cellos and encouraged young Romanian and foreign composers to write music for this formula. Her plea has been heard and currently the duo has added ten new, original works to its repertoire . Starting with 2012, Bokor has taken part in many national and international tours. In 2016, she launched a CD entitled "Tales". Together with Ludens Piano Trio she participated in many festivals like SoNoRo, George Enescu, ICon Arts, and Plovdin Chamber Music. She is a member of the Romanian Youth Orchestra.

MIRCEA MARIAN is a cellist with a varied and rich artistic activity and a soloist of the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra, Professor in the chamber music department of the National University of Music in Bucharest, member of the Duo Cello Jaya and the Profil Quartet. He has been a soloist with Philharmonisches Orchester Altenburg Gera, Romanian National Radio Orchestra, Bucharest Radio Chamber Orchestra, Arad State Philharmonic,  Focșani Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of the University of Graz-Austria, and the Oltenia Philharmonic of Craiova. He has also made recordings with the Romanian Broadcasting Company, both as a soloist and with the Duo Cello Jaya.