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Mariana Sirbu violin
Cristina Dancila violin
Massimo Paris viola
Mihai Dancila cello
The Quartetto
Stradivari is a happy blend of the new and the traditional, with its four world-class
string players bringing together a wealth of diverse talent passionately dedicated to the
art of music-making en famille.
The quartet
was formed in 1994, when the violinist Mariana Sirbu and the cellist Mihai Dancila, who
had previously had a long and successful association with the Quartetto Academica, joined
with Cristina, their daughter and the noted italian viola player Massimo Paris to form an
uncommonly close-knit ensemble that ever since its debut has attracted critical acclaim
and an enthusiastic reception from audiences at concert societies, music festivals and
other major events the world over. Among its recent achievements on disc are recordings
for UNICEF of works from Opus 76 by Haydn and some of Boccherinis celebrated guitar
quintets with the Spanish guitarist Pepe Romero. |
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Quartetto
Stradivari at the Palacio Real in Madrid when they performed on the unique and famous
quartet of instruments made by Stradivarius for the Spanish Court in the 1690s
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In 1998, the Quartetto Stradivari was honoured by
an invitation to perform at one of a prestigious series of chamber music concerts
at the Royal Palace in Madrid, when they played a unique set of four instruments. This is
the renowned Cuarteto de la Corona Espaņola made by Stradivarius for the Spanish Court,
and the only such set ever produced by the great master, which was presented to King
Philip V when he visited Cremona in 1702.
In the summer of 2000 the quartet undertook a highly successful tour of China, giving both
concerts and master classes.
The members of
the quartet are active in supporting needy children worldwide. They have made a number of
recordings for UNICEF and give charity concerts for this and other good causes.
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Mariana Sirbu
accomplished
her studies at the Bucharest Academy of Music and started her concert career at an early
age, winning violin prizes all over Europe: the ENESCU Prize in Romania, the CARL FLESCH
in London, the MARIA CANALS in Barcelona and the VITTORIO GUI in Florence.
She performed as soloist in the most prestigious concert halls such as: La Scala Milano,
Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Avery Fisher Hall and Lincoln Center New York, Teatro Colon
Buenos Aires, Berlin`s Philharmonie, Sydney Opera House, Musikverein Wiena, Suntory Hall
Tokyo, etc.
In 1968 Mariana Sirbu founded and led the Quartetto Academica, which won major
competitions in Liege (1972), Munich (1973), Geneva (1974) and Belgrade (1975), followed
by tours throughout the world. In 1985 she became the violinist in the Trio di Milano
with the pianist Bruno Canino and the cellist Rocco Filippini, which has toured Europe,
the USA, Canada and Australia. Since 1992 she has also been the leader of the chamber
music ensemble I Musici. Mariana has recorded for radio and TV networks worldwide
and also for Philips, Dynamic, Schwann-Harmonia Mundi, Decca and UNICEF. She gives regular
master classes in Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Spain, Germany, Holland, China, France, etc.
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Cristina Dancila
was born in
Iasi, Romania, into a family with long musical traditions. She started studying the violin
with her grandmother at the age of five, and later with her grandfather Gheorghe Sirbu,
who taught the instrument at the Iasi Academy of Music. After the family moved to Western
Europe in 1977, she continued her studies with her mother, Mariana Sirbu, and later with
Stefan Gheorghiu in Germany and Italy, while completing her education at the European
School in Varese. She attended Norbert Brainins master classes in Fiesole for four
years. Since starting her career, Cristina has performed in various chamber music groups
with artists such as Bruno Canino, Anthony Pay, Carlo Bruno, Pepe Romero, Alain Meunier
and members of the Orlando Quartet.
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Massimo Paris
graduated in
viola, composition and conducting at the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia in Rome. He has
preformed as soloist, viola and viola damore, at La Scala in Milan, the Carnegie and
Avery Fisher Hall in New York, Berlins Philharmonie, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and
the Sydney Opera House.
He was a member of the Virtuosi di Roma and since 1978 has been solo viola of I
Musici. Massimo Paris has played with the Quartetto Academica and other
prestigious artists, including Bruno Canino, Anthony Pay, Severino Gazzelloni, Carlo
Bruno, Heinz Holliger, Bruno Giuranna, Rafael Orozco, Pepe Romero, Christian Zacharias,
Trio di Milano. He is regular guest at Festivals such as: Marlboro, Montreux, Edinburgh,
Schleswig Holstein, Orlando, Santa Fe. Massimo Paris is Professor of Viola at the
Conservatorio Santa Cecilia and at the Cologne-Aachen Musikhochschule and gives master
classes worldwide. He has recorded for radio and TV stations in Europe, the USA,
Australia, and Japan and for Philips, Denon, Columbia, Claves and UNICEF.
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Mihai Dancila
studied the
cello at the Bucharest Academy of Music. In 1968 he co-founded the prizewinning Quartetto
Academica, with which he toured worldwide. He has played as a soloist in Europe and
overseas and also at numerous music festivals with artists such as Richard Stolzman,
Menachem Pressler, Alain Meunier, Franco Petracchi, Carlo Bruno, Anthony Pay, Bruno
Giuranna, Rocco Filippini, Bruno Canino, Peter Schidlof and the Orlando and Bartok
Quartets. Since 1988 Mihai has been the cellist in the Quartetto Beethoven di
Roma piano quartet, with which he has toured Europe, the Americas and Australia. He
has recorded for many radio and TV stations and for Decca, Denon, Schwann-Harmonia Mundi
and Dynamic, as well as for UNICEF. He has taught cello and chamber music at the Bucharest
Academy of Music and the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and gives frequent master
classes in Italy, Spain, Holland, France, China, Germany, etc.
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