MASTERPIECES for VIOLIN & GUITAR

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ELMIRA DARVAROVA, Violin

Elmira Darvarova, former Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (and the first woman-concertmaster in the MET’s history), started playing the violin at the age of three, gave her first recital at four, and made her debut as a soloist with an orchestra when she was eight years old. A prizewinner of several international competitions, including the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, she studied with Yfrah Neaman, Henryk Szeryng and Josef Gingold.

She caused a sensation, becoming the first ever woman-concertmaster in the history of the Metropolitan Opera, toured Europe, Japan and the United States with the MET Orchestra, and was heard on the MET's live weekly international radio broadcasts, television broadcasts, CDs and laser discs on the Sony, Deutsche Grammophon and EMI labels. As concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, she has performed with many of the most prominent conductors of all time, including the legendary Carlos Kleiber.

Appearing in concert halls and at festivals on four continents, she has been concerto soloist with the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, and numerous other orchestras. She gives master classes worldwide, and has collaborated in chamber music performances and recordings with such eminent musicians as James Levine, Janos Starker and Gary Karr. A documentary film about her life and career was shown on European TV. She has recorded numerous CDs for several labels, most recently for Urlicht AudioVisual, including the world premiere recording of Vernon Duke’s violin concerto (written for Heifetz 75 years ago) with the Vienna Radio Orchestra, two discs with the great double bassist Gary Karr, an all-Poulenc disc with the distinguished French pianist Pascal Rogé, and a 2013 release of the Brahms Horn Trio with the principal horn of the New York Philharmonic, Philip Myers.

The STRAD Magazine has praised her “silky-smooth, voluptuous sound” and her “intoxicating tonal beauty and beguilingly sensuous phrasing”, while Gramophone Magazine hailed her “ultra-impassioned, vividly detailed performances”.

GEORGE VASSILEV, Guitar

Winner of the international guitar competitions in Geneva (Switzerland), Madrid (Spain), Alessandria (Italy), Barcelona (Spain) and Tychy (Poland), GEORGE VASSILEV is an internationally renowned guitarist with unique artistry, musical approach and mastery. Collaborating with world-renowned artist such as Emmanuel Pahud, Ute Lemper and Richard Tognetti, and with concert managers IMG in the United Kingdom and Georg Horthagel’s Konzertdirektion in Germany, he has performed in many prestigious music venues in Europe, the United States, Brazil and Australia, such as the Royal Festival Hall - London, Victoria Hall - Geneva, Melbourne Arts Center, Sydney Opera House, St. Petersburg’s Hermitage, New Opera House - Copenhagen, and with orchestras including Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Royal Danish Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra.

While pursuing solo activities, he has always found inspiration in chamber music through a variety of different genres - from Renaissance and baroque, to tango, jazz and electroacoustic music. His eclectic personality and cosmopolitan artistic interests involve him in experimental music projects, which constantly cross borders, exploring new horizons and relations between different art forms. Having recorded extensively for radio broadcasts and TV programs, George Vassilev has also released 12 CDs on different labels, such as Fidesson, Artlab, Swiss Radio International, Mega Sofia, IMUK, DACAPO, MHR, as well as his own record label GVRecords. His solo guitar release “George Vassilev Guitar Recital”, as well as Piazzolla’s quintets project “Tango Jam” (recorded with James Crabb, Richard Tognetti and members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra) received high critical acclaim.

Since 2001 George Vassilev leads the superior and post graduate guitar classes at the Conservatory of Lausanne, Campus of Sion (HEMU) in Switzerland.