Catalina Butcaru
Pianist Catalina Butcaru is regarded as one of the extraordinary talents of her generation. Her understanding of music and her impressive virtuosity and power of interpretation delight conductors, chamber musicians and critics alike. At the center of her artistic work are the works of the romantic and the modern eras up until the 21st century.
Butcarus first Solo CD, recorded at Wigmore Hall in 2008 and released by Divine Art – Diversions, attracted international attention. This recording of works by A. Berg, M. Ravel and R. Schumann was not only critically acclaimed but also presented in full in Austrian radio.
“Catalina Butcaru is at one with the music and can stand comparison with the best who have ventured forth into the territory”
“These are clearly ten new fingers to keep a close watch on.”
“This is a must have disc. It is the best piano playing I have heard for many years.”
„The Romanian pianist is a musical dialogue partner of stupendous maturity, she plays flawlessly with a palette of expression that reaches from sublimity to energetic, powerful allure.“
- "Der Neue Merker" after an evening of chamber music at the Wiener Konzerthaus in May 2000
Many successful projects brought Catalina Butcaru together with musicians like Volkhard Steude, concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic, Valentin Erben, cellist of the “Alban Berg” quartet, or with the rising star violinist Emmanuel Tjeknavorian.
After a short break due to the birth of her two sons, Catalina Butcaru continued giving concerts. In 2014, Butcaru, together with the Rumanian flutist Matei Ioachimescu, recorded her new CD „Lumière“ with works of Poulenc, Enescu and Jolivet.
Catalina Butcaru and Volkhard Steude’s joint concert tour of Romania in 2016 was a huge success with the audience. This inspiring cooperation between Butcaru and the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic will be continued in 2017: the duo has been invited to go on another tour of the most important concert halls in Romania. In addition to the sonata evenings, they will perform Mendelssohn’s double concerto.
Furthermore, Catalina Butcaru has been invited again to perform the Schumann concerto three times with the Middle German Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra.
Catalina Butcaru was born in Constanta, Romania. When she was five years old, Catalina began taking piano lessons at Constanta music school with Victoria Nitu. At the age of eight, Catalina gave her first public concert, which was followed by her first solo concert with orchestra at the age of fourteen. Catalina moved to Bucharest when she was thirteen years old, where she continued her studies at the music school “G. Enescu” with Olga Szel. The renowned Romanian pianists Aurora Ienei and Dan Grigore also encouraged and influenced Catalina’s musical development. First recordings for Romanian radio broadcasting followed.
Already at the age of 16, Catalina Butcaru was accepted at the renowned University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. She gained her Soloist’s diploma under the supervision of Prof. Jürg von Vintschger. Her longstanding work with pianist Meira Farkas gave Catalina vital artistic impulses.
Catalina continued her musical education at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, where she obtained her Master’s degree in 2004 after intensive studies with the acclaimed Russian piano teacher Alexandr Satz. Master courses with renowned musicians, such as Dmitri Bashkirov, Martin Hughes, and Andrzej Jasinski profoundly influenced her artistic development. Catalina Butcaru won several piano competitions in Romania, among them the Golden Lyra competition and the Mozart competition. She is a finalist of the international Steinway Competition in Vienna. Between 1996 and 2001 Catalina recorded for Austrian television and radio.
Her first solo CD was presented in full in Austrian radio.
Catalina Butcaru is frequently invited to international music festivals, such as the Chamber Music Festival Reichenau, the Festival Burg Golling in Salzburg, „Klassik im Burghof“ in Klagenfurt, the Classic Azur Chamber Music Festival in southern France and the „Toamna Muzicala Clujeana“ in Romania. Catalina Butcaru is scholar of the “Alban Berg” foundation and the “Maria Theresia” foundation.