double basses:
Jan Jirmasek – Czech Republic
Ljubinko Lazić – Serbia
Giorgi Makhoshwili – Georgia
Andrew Lee – South Korea
Andrei Shynkevich – Belarus
leader::
Klaus Trumpf – (Germany)
In a very unusual setting, young musicians, all of them multiple prize winners in international music competitions, met to form a special group. As an International Contrabass Ensemble, they know how to excite and engage the audience in Europe and America in concerts, on CDs, on the radio, and on TV with never expected, varied, interesting programs, which include music from the early renaissance, baroque and classical period to arrangements of light music, and have done so since their foundation in 1996.
„You Have to Hear Bassiona Amorosa to Believe it!”
wrote an English music critic. *
As after a concert in cheerful atmosphere at the State Conservatory of Music and Theatre in Munich in 1996 the SPECIAL String QUARTET BASSIONA AMOROSA - named after the virtuose-charming composition of Giovanni Bottesini „Passione Amorosa“ (“passion of love”) - was founded with four female students of the Master Class of Prof. Klaus Trumpf (meanwhile, all of them are engaged in European or chestras), it soon could look back on enthusiastic reactions by the audience in national and international concerts.
„The Audience in Iowa (USA) Was Taken by Storm” *
The reason for this special attraction is the incredible sound refinement and the unusual virtuoso performance. The sense of this “special touch” bring these exceptional artists along from their home countries Slovakia, Russia, Czech Republic, White Russia, Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine. The formation consists of Master Class students of Prof. Trumpf at the State Conservatory of Music in Munich. Carthy musicianship, Slav melancholy with classical education – now formed through the same school - merge in unique symbiosis. Unbroken temperament and charm fascinate the audience.
„Enormous Musicality, Lots of Wit, Grandiose Virtuosity“.*
Above all, the fascination of this quartet is bent on the element of surprise because of the setting with four string basses and furthermore on the absolutely safe, perfect command of technique, a convincing musicality, unmistakable sound refinement, and interesting arrangements (mainly from Klaus Trumpf, the leader of the quartet), which determine the artistic level of the ensemble and „...point out the character of the musicians’ congeniality“.*
The quartet creates full-length programs as well as solo performances within the scope of concerts and staging. In combination with a pianist (also a multiple prize winner of international music competitions) the program can be varied. Every audience is reached by virtuoso solo performances and variable scorings.
In its thirteen-years history, BASSIONA AMOROSA performed in more than 450 concerts; 13 CDs have been published so far; the ensemble was subject of three short films shot by the Bavarian Television Station and the WDR (West German Broadcasting Company). Many countries of Europe, Asia; the fourth USA tour in June 2006 received a sensational reception by the audience, as can be read from the visitors’ book:
„We loved to see and hear you again and again!“ *
In Lucerne in 2003, BASSIONA AMOROSA received from the European Culture Foundation PRO EUROPA the „EUROPEAN QUARTET PRIZE“.
Further highlights for the ensemble were two honourable tasks: the musical framing of the European Cultural Presentation of Prizes for Placido Domingo and Wolfgang Wagner. As the audience thanked BASSIONA AMOROSA for several minutes with standing ovations, the ensemble was assured to be on the right track with its program. Partnership with other great musicians: Anne-Sophie Mutter, Maxim Vengerov, Daniel Hope and so on. In order to win people over to make friends with the string bass, the group has been oriented since its formation to the idea “popular-classical to classical-popular.” Original works for the ensemble of well-known composers are in the process of development.
In 2010 the great concert in Carnegie Hall New York, ending with Standing Ovations!
All members of this ensemble playing in variable settings were students of the Contrabass Master Class of Prof. Klaus Trumpf at the State Hochschule of Music in Munich; all are for the most part multiple prize winners (in Germany, USA, CR, ARD-Competition etc.) in international competitions. In September 2003, BASSIONA AMOROSA received from the European Culture Foundation PRO EUROPA the „European Quartet Prize 2003“. “Bach-Plakette” 2004.
Jan Jirmasek 1980 Czech Republic, 1884-2000 Conservatory of Music; since 2000 State Conservatory of Music in Munich, with Klaus Trumpf; 1st and 2nd prizes at national competitions; 1997 3rd prize at Gregora-Competition; diploma at the II. Sperger-Competition 2003; member in following orchestras: Young Austrian Philharmonic Orchestra, Euregio Symphony Orchestra; Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra; Schleswig-Holstein-Festival-Orchestra, member in the Bavarian Orchestra Academy; 2008 Solobass Symphonie Orchestra Karlovy Vary.
Ljubinko Lazic 1979 Serbia; 1st contrabass lesson in 1993; Study at the Conservatory of Music in Novy Sad 1998-2001; since 2001 State Conservatory of Music in Munich with K.Trumpf; 1994-2000 four 1st prizes at national competitions; 3rd prize at the Intl’ Contrabass-Competition in Kromeriz/CR 2002; orchestral activities: Belgrade Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra of the Nations; Bavarian Orchestra Academy; recitals: Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Italy, Germany; 2002: diploma at the Sperger-Competition. 2006: 1.Solobassist of Philharmonie Belgrad, since 2014 Prof. Belgrad.
Giorgi Makhoshvili 1977 Georgia; 1993-97 music college; 1997/98 State Conservatory Tbilssi; 1996-97 Symphony Orchestra in Tbilssi; 1998 1st prize Jazz Competition Georgia; 1999 United World Youth Orchetsra; since 1999 Study at the State Conservatory of Music in Munich with Klaus Trumpf – Master’s Degree in 2003, since 2003 postgraduate studies; Chamber Orchestra Ingolstadt/Germany; Masterclass-Diplom 2005, Composer – many music in Hofmeister-musicedition Leipzig.
Andrew Lee 1985 born in USA; back to S.-korea; study National-University of Seoul, from 2004 in Munich Conservatory of Music in Munich with Klaus Trumpf; 2006 first price in Blatna/CR Simandl-competition. 2007: 2.price ISB-Competition in Oklahoma/USA, 2008 Pricewinner in St.Petersburg S-Koussewitzky-competition, Co-Principal Symphonie-Orchestra Wuppertal.
Andrei Shynkevich 1981 Whiterussia, 1994-2001 Studium Minsk with Nikolai Krivosheev, Masterclass-Diplom 2005 München with Klaus Trumpf; 2005-2007 Nuremberg
with Dorin Mark. 1.prizes in competitions: 1997 Moldavia, 2002 Kromeriz,2003 Richmond/USA; 2.prizes: 1998 Gomel, 2002 “Virtuosprize Sperger-competition”. Solo-concerts: Whiterussia, Germany, USA (ISB-Convention 2005). 2007 Russian State Academic Symphonie Orchestra Moskau, 2008 Chamberorchestra Heilbronn/Germany, 2010 Hamburger Philharmonie, 2013: 1.Solobassist Sinfonieorchestra Perm/Russia.
*from the international press