Home » Jazz Musicians » Alexander Balanescu

Alexander Balanescu

Alexander Balanescu, violinist, composer and visual artist was born in Romania, raised in Israel and studied violin at London’s Trinity College of Music and the Julliard school in New York. He returned to London where he worked and cooperated with many of the major contemporary music groups. With his Balanescu Quartet he has acquired a reputation as one of the world’s leading contemporary artist. His quartet has commissioned over 25 works to date beginning with Michael Nyman, Gavin Bryars, Kevin Volans and Balanescu himself, before going on to include the non-classical writers John Lurie, David Byrne, Keith Tippett, Carla Bley, Rabih Abou Khalil, Michael Nyman, Gavin Bryars, Ornette Coleman, Peter Greenaway, David Byrne, the Pet Shop Boys, Spiritualized, Kate Bush and Kraftwerk. Collaborations as a composer/performer include in dance with Merryl Tankard, Pina Bausch, Rosemary Lee, Suzy Blok, Johann Ulrich, Phillipe Saire and Virgilio Sieni and in Theatre Productions at Theatre de la Place, Liege, Belgrade State Theatre, Cabaret Dromesko, Rennes, and Watford Palace Theatre. Balanescu’s credits as a composer of film and TV music include the feature films Angels and Insects, Le Poulpe, Il Partigiano Johnny and Eisenstein, (TV) documentaries Dancing through Darkness and Spinoza and over 20 animated films… Alexander Balanescu is considered as one of the most visionary and exciting violinists of our time. Source: Ana Isabel Ordonez

Tags

23
Interview

Alexander Balanescu: The Aggressive Lyricism

Read "Alexander Balanescu: The Aggressive Lyricism" reviewed by Adriana Carcu


Alexander Balanescu, the London-based violinist of Romanian origin, leads the avant- garde string quartet Balanescu Quartet, formed in 1987. Before that, Balanescu was part of the Michael Nyman Ensemble and Arditti Quartet. Ever since he has worked closely with artists of various musical orientations such as saxophonist John Lurie, singer David Byrne, pianists Keith Tippett and Carla Bley, oudist Rabih Abou Khalil, Spiritualised and the Pet Shop Boys.Balanescu has been involved both as a performer and as a ...

Read more articles

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Music, film. Music.

Cheltenham Jazz Festival
2012

buy

Similar

Omer Avital
bass, acoustic
Elliott Sharp
guitar, electric
Philip Glass
composer / conductor

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.