Prima Carezza and the Prima Carezza trio
Prima Carezza (The Original Salon-Ensemble) received the French “Grand Prix du Disque” (Académie Charles Cros) for reviving the music of the great Romanian violin virtuoso Georges Boulanger (wiki page).
Prima Carezza plays in the original formation typical of the early 20th century salon orchestras. Depending on regional tradition, the piano is joined by a lead violinist, a second violin (obbligato), viola, cello, and bass (occasionally tuba). Various wind instruments (most typically clarinet or saxophone) are added at time, as well as harmonium and in later times, accordion and percussion.
As with the best Boulanger orchestras, Prima Carezza combines professionally trained musicians with gifted amateurs to create a combined sound of genuine musicianship and professional perfection with a vibrant emotionality for an unmistakable sound of brilliant spontaneity exuding a real joy and passion harkening back to its festive virtuoso gypsy roots. Their style shows many similarities with the famous Heifetz glissandos, slides and other accented mannerisms of violin playing.
To delight his admirers, Boulanger added wild technical effects and temperaments to his decadent elegance, producing eccentric sobs, staggering sighs, and many other technical surprises. His pieces were always recognizable from the first note.
Prima Carezza has taken these Boulanger practices into their presentation of repertoire allowing for a broad spectrum of arrangement, settings, and interpretations. The music serves to delight, with subtle irony and ostensible clichés.
The Prima Carezza Trio is a reduction in size only. This flexible ensemble delivers the same energy, passion and virtuosity as the full orchestra, but is suitable for smaller, more intimate settings.
Prima Carezza plays in the original formation typical of the early 20th century salon orchestras. Depending on regional tradition, the piano is joined by a lead violinist, a second violin (obbligato), viola, cello, and bass (occasionally tuba). Various wind instruments (most typically clarinet or saxophone) are added at time, as well as harmonium and in later times, accordion and percussion.
As with the best Boulanger orchestras, Prima Carezza combines professionally trained musicians with gifted amateurs to create a combined sound of genuine musicianship and professional perfection with a vibrant emotionality for an unmistakable sound of brilliant spontaneity exuding a real joy and passion harkening back to its festive virtuoso gypsy roots. Their style shows many similarities with the famous Heifetz glissandos, slides and other accented mannerisms of violin playing.
To delight his admirers, Boulanger added wild technical effects and temperaments to his decadent elegance, producing eccentric sobs, staggering sighs, and many other technical surprises. His pieces were always recognizable from the first note.
Prima Carezza has taken these Boulanger practices into their presentation of repertoire allowing for a broad spectrum of arrangement, settings, and interpretations. The music serves to delight, with subtle irony and ostensible clichés.
The Prima Carezza Trio is a reduction in size only. This flexible ensemble delivers the same energy, passion and virtuosity as the full orchestra, but is suitable for smaller, more intimate settings.