Alexander
Sevastian, young bayanist, has released his first solo CD
and you will find it very interesting and extremely well performed
music. He is certainly one of the young artists on this instrument
who should be admired for both his technique and his musicianship.
Those two attributes alone should give him an audience for his
performances for a very long and successful career; however, this
young musician also has something else in his favor. He is dignified,
yet charming and friendly, both on and off the stage and he plays
as well in public performances as he does on this recording. Alexander
also knows how to select a balanced program of arrangements and
originals for the bayan.
The selections on this CD vary from several favorite composers
to those equally gifted ones whose compositions are not yet popularly
known by some, accordionists particularly. They are, however,
quite well received throughout the world by serious musicians,
both accordionists and non-accordionists. Undoubtedly, these composers
have contributed greatly to the growing wealth of original compositions
now available to accordionists and bayanists everywhere. Even
upon first hearing, the selections are quite accessible and, indeed,
exciting for all.
Alexander Sevastian has accomplished a lot in his musical life.
You will read that he has attended the Glinka Musical College
in Minsk (class of Myron Boula), earned his Masters in Performance
Degree in the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow (with renowned
performer and pedagogue, Friedrich
Lips), and completed the Advanced Certificate in Performance
at the University of Toronto, Canada where he studied with Joseph
Macerollo. He has also entered and won several competitions. He
was born in Minsk but moved with his family to Canada in 2001.
As a recitalist and soloist with orchestras, he has appeared in
Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Italy, France and Germany.
Since September 2002 Alexander has been a member of the internationally
recognized group Quartetto Gelato with which he has toured over
a hundred cities in the USA, Canada, Italy, Korea and Japan. The
group also has several recordings.
I recommend this recording very highly! It is most outstanding
in every way: fine playing, interesting repertoire, well recorded
Jupiter instrument, and very professionally produced. You should
buy it. US$ 17. E-mail: sasaseva@hotmail.com
Reviewed by Joan
Cochran Sommers
(August 2005)
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