Alexander Balanescu
Encyclopedia
Alexander Bălănescu is a violin
ist and founder of the Balanescu Quartet
.
He emigrated with his family to Israel
in 1969.
He is a performer of contemporary music and can be heard playing an arrangement of the University Challenge
TV quiz programme intro and outro theme. Several short animated films by Phil Mulloy use his music.
He founded and leads the Balanescu Quartet
closely assisted by Clare Connors.
He is a founding member of the Michael Nyman Band
and has performed on most of their albums, except between 1994 and 1998 as well as other ensembles playing Michael Nyman
's music. He left the band during the recording of Facing Goya
, and his concertmaster
seat was assumed by Gabrielle Lester
.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and founder of the Balanescu Quartet
Balanescu Quartet
The Balanescu Quartet is an avant-garde string quartet founded in 1987 by Alexander Bălănescu that achieved fame through the release of several complex cover versions of songs by German experimental electronic music band Kraftwerk on their album "Possessed"....
.
He emigrated with his family to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1969.
He is a performer of contemporary music and can be heard playing an arrangement of the University Challenge
University Challenge
University Challenge is a British quiz programme that has aired since 1962. The format is based on the American show College Bowl, which ran on NBC radio from 1953 to 1957, and on NBC television from 1959 to 1970....
TV quiz programme intro and outro theme. Several short animated films by Phil Mulloy use his music.
He founded and leads the Balanescu Quartet
Balanescu Quartet
The Balanescu Quartet is an avant-garde string quartet founded in 1987 by Alexander Bălănescu that achieved fame through the release of several complex cover versions of songs by German experimental electronic music band Kraftwerk on their album "Possessed"....
closely assisted by Clare Connors.
He is a founding member of the Michael Nyman Band
Michael Nyman Band
The Michael Nyman Band, formerly known as the Campiello Band, is a group formed as a street band for a 1976 production of Carlo Goldoni's 1756 play, Il Campiello directed by Bill Bryden at the Old Vic...
and has performed on most of their albums, except between 1994 and 1998 as well as other ensembles playing Michael Nyman
Michael Nyman
Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano...
's music. He left the band during the recording of Facing Goya
Facing Goya
Facing Goya is an opera in four acts by Michael Nyman on a libretto by Victoria Hardie. It is an expansion of their one-act opera called Vital Statistics from 1987, dealing with such subjects as physiognomy and its practitioners, and also incorporates a musical motif from Nyman's art song, "The...
, and his concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
seat was assumed by Gabrielle Lester
Gabrielle Lester
Gabrielle Lester is an English classical violinist and orchestra leader. She maintains an extensive discography of classical, popular and soundtrack recordings.-Career:...
.