1742 Guarneri del Gesu Exceptional Violins

Watch Here on Vimeo!

Say hello to a whole new way of experiencing and enjoying violin music! This streaming project is the result of my dream of recording on one of the top violins in the world, an exquisite late period Guarneri del Gesu violin from 1742 also know as the "Sloan" Del Gesu.

It’s nice to be able to make a living doing something you care about especially these days when Concert Halls are closed and there are so few opportunities to share our music with live audiences. The selections you will hear are my favorite pieces from the violin solo repertoire.

We live in the age of great technological achievements. So great in fact, that a large majority of the releases we see and hear these days are spliced, edited, digitally manipulated to such a degree that often times it resembles very little of the original track. It’s really the standard of the day and it shouldn’t surprise anyone. 

I decided to do the opposite and what you’ll hear on these recordings are straight out of the microphone takes, with no sound editing on our part. Flying without a net, as close to a live performance as it gets. It’s not a  technically perfect recording and at times you might see on my face the anxiety of having to surf between the noise coming from the construction site next door, and other unexpected noises that came up particularly at the end of important or difficult takes that could have been a keeper. 

Making this recording has been a memorable journey of discovery and I’m so thankful to Dr. William & Judy Sloan for allowing me to visit for many weeks and borrow the wonderful violins and bows.

Thanks for looking and for supporting my work!

Repertoire List:

Fritz Kreisler - Recitativo and Scherzo Caprice

Eugène Ysaÿe - Sonata No. 3 "Ballade"

J. S. Bach - Chaccone, Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004

J.S. Bach - Sarabande, Partita No.1 in B minor, BWV 1002

George Enescu - Impressions D'enfance, Le Ménétrier 

Niccolò Paganini - Caprices Nos. 1, 5, 9, 14, 21 & 24

Astor Piazzola - Tango Etude #3

Ion Voicu - The Morning After the Wedding

1714 Stradivari "Jackson" Exceptional Violins

 Rent Here on Vimeo!

Say hello to a whole new way of experiencing and enjoying violin music! This streaming project is the result of my dream of recording on one of the top violins in the world, an exquisite golden age period Stradivari violin from 1714 also know as the “Jackson” Strad. 

It’s nice to be able to make a living doing something you care about especially these days when Concert Halls are closed and there are so few opportunities to share our music with live audiences. The selections you will hear are my favorite pieces from the violin solo repertoire.

We live in the age of great technological achievements. So great in fact, that a large majority of the releases we see and hear these days are spliced, edited, digitally manipulated to such a degree that often times it resembles very little of the original track. It’s really the standard of the day and it shouldn’t surprise anyone. 

I decided to do the opposite and what you’ll hear on these recordings are straight out of the microphone takes, with no sound editing on our part. Flying without a net, as close to a live performance as it gets. It’s not a  technically perfect recording and at times you might see on my face the anxiety of having to surf between the noise coming from the construction site next door, and other unexpected noises that came up particularly at the end of important or difficult takes that could have been a keeper. 

Making this recording has been a memorable journey of discovery and I’m so thankful to Dr. William & Judy Sloan for allowing me to visit for many weeks and borrow the wonderful violins and bows.

Join us in couple weeks on October 3 for the release of the second episode of the Exceptional Violins Series featuring another great violin, the 1742 Guarneri Del Gesu “Sloan”

Repertoire List:

Fritz Kreisler - Recitativo and Scherzo Caprice

Eugène Ysaÿe - Sonata No. 3 "Ballade"

J. S. Bach - Chaccone, Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004

J.S. Bach - Sarabande, Partita No.1 in B minor, BWV 1002

George Enescu - Impressions D'enfance, Le Ménétrier 

Niccolò Paganini - Caprices Nos. 1, 5, 9, 14, 21 & 24

Astor Piazzola - Tango Etude #3

Ion Voicu - The Morning After the Wedding

Exceptional Violins Series - Stradivari 1714 "Jackson"

Please join us Saturday 9/19 for the launch of the first episode of the Exceptional Violins Series stream featuring selections of solo violin repertoire by Bach, Paganini, Ysaÿe, Kreisler, Enescu & Piazzola performed on the 1714 "Jackson" Stradivari violin kindly on loan from Dr. William Sloan.

Romanian Cultural Institute New York Recital

Very excited to have been invited to present a recital in the prestigious Enescu Soirees Online Recital Series!

Find out more about these series at: https://www.rciusa.info/post/renowned-fatu-duo-in-the-enescu-soirees-online

Advice on Having a Successful VSA Competition

Strings Magazine asked me to share few thoughts about my experience as a tone judge for the 2018 Violin Society of America International Instrument and Bow Making Competition.

Here is an article with some useful information for violin and bow makers which appeared in the May 2019 issue.

https://stringsmagazine.com/instrument-bow-makers-judges-offer-advice-on-having-a-successful-vsa-competition/

Stradivari & Guarneri del Gesu

I am fascinated by sound, I have always been. For me a violin or a bow doesn’t just have to work, it also has to inspire, to invite me and my imagination into a sonic world in its own right. For this reason I try to stay close to talented living makers or to the work of past masters. 

Recently I had the chance to visit yet again a friend who’s generosity of sharing his treasures is beyond words and got to step into a marvelous musical world. Basically I created and attended a private little party between my hands, my imagination, a wonderful Golden Period Stradivari violin, a wonderful late Guarneri Del Gesu violin, a Tourte and a Voirin... 

I know you all wonder which is the best, which is the greatest, which I’m in love with… and the answer is that they’re all good and great. I feel fortunate to have been able to play them and you can make your own thoughts and opinions on which you find the best and greatest.

Violin selection is matter of personal preference, technical level, the colors and textures one feels or hears in his mind. Among other things I look for quick and easy response, a certain sensitivity under my fingers. We should also pay attention to the right hand since it offers such important feedback. The bow is what makes a violin sound. Without it there is pizzicato or silence. The idea is to achieve expressivity and fluidity with the greatest ease. Each string should have its own character, building blocks of one’s own private musical world. I’m drawn to recordings of masters from the past with their warm personal sound which is in stark contrast with the sound of contemporary artists. Being able to play soft is maybe more important than playing loud. I think one needs to achieve contrasts effortlessly, quickly and beautifully. 

I hope these sounds peaked your interest as much as they did mine. There is a gem in every violin out there and with the right approach (technique, strings, tonal adjustments and the right bow) one can find great joy in creating and exploring his own personal musical world…

Bach - Sonata for Violin Solo No. 2, Grave played on a Stradivari violin

Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto solo Excerpt played on a Stradivari violin 

Paganini - Caprice No.21 played on a Guarneri del Gesu violin 

Enescu - Impressions D'enfance, Le Menetrier played on a Guarneri del Gesu violin 

Love is... at Capitol Records!

December 2019 brings the release of Sophie's first professional album singing some of her favorite songs of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others. This superb album was recorded at the historic Capitol Records, same exact spot where Frank and Dean recorded. I feel so fortunate to have been involved in this project alongside some amazing professionals and to support my little girl as she's reaching to the stars. 

Stay tuned for all the updates on Sophie's upcoming first album here: www.sophiefatumusic.com

New CD Review!

We're very excited about this review!

https://newmusicbuff.com/2019/06/22/fatu-duo-unusual-and-beautiful-romantic-gems-for-violin-and-piano/

Kennedy Center Premiere

I'm humbled by the honor to perform in this great temple of music the world premiere of Matthew Jackfert's Violin Concerto "A Black Bear Awakens in Winter" accompanied by the Charleston Chamber Orchestra and conductor Scott Woodard.

New Bio...

Violinist Cristian Fatu is the first violinist of the Montclaire String Quartet and Adjunct Faculty at the West Virginia State University. He is a top prize winner at more than 25 national and international violin competitions in his native Romania and abroad including First Prize at the 2008 Kingsville International Competition, TX and the Grand Prize and First Prize at the 2000 "Remember Enescu" International Violin Competition, Romania. He has built a significant career of recital, concerto, music festival and chamber music appearances in the US and Europe including the Music Celebrations International Festival at Carnegie Hall, New York City; the International Summer Academy Prag-Wien-Budapest in Austria; and the Kyoto International Music Students Festival in Japan, among others.The Murnauer Tagblatt in Germany praised his “wonderful virtuosity as well as perfect technique.” Cristian holds a Bachelor's degree from the National Music University of Bucharest, a Master's and an Artist Diploma from Park University, MO where he studied with Ben Sayevich. His teachers and coaches include Gil Shaham, Stefan Gheorghiu, Eric Rosenblith, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Gabriel Croitoru and Vladimir Spivakov, to name a few. Upcoming engagements include the world premiere of a West Virginia Violin Concerto by composer Matt Jackfert at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in the company of the Charleston Chamber Orchestra in February 2019. Cristian is married to the pianist and jazz singer Victoria Martirosyan – Fatu and together they have three children Mark, Vivienne and Sophie who at only five years of age became the youngest contestant in the history of NBC's America's Got Talent delivering memorable performances of Sinatra's top hits.

Treasures from Home CD Now Available!

This CD features some of the most touching and popular pieces close to our hearts. Home is where our family is and with this album we share with you the music that has accompanied us throughout life's journeys.

Our latest Album is now available for purchase and listening on Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/treasures-from-home/1425098704

Also it can be found in digital or analog form on Amazon and CD Baby websites: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/fa2duo 
https://www.amazon.com/Treasures-Home-Fa2-Duo/dp/B07GC78WLZ

Lastly, it can be heard on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nnVSmCTfOKu9ztJ_qqLt8wCvpUdfJcFFY

Charleston chamber Orchestra @ Carnegie Hall

It's been such an honor and privilege to lead the Charleston Chamber Orchestra as Concertmaster at Carnegie Hall and to accompany Victoria Fatu in the Shostakovich Piano Concerto...

West Virginia Symphony Orchestra Highlight

I am very honored to have been featured in this clip produced for the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

Redirect to a new Home

Hello all,

I've just realized that I don't get to update this website as often as I should. I would like to invite you all to follow me for news and updates at my new virtual home, the FA2 Duo website.

http://fa2duo.com

Best regards,
Cristian

Shostakovich Piano Trio No.2 in E minor

Fall 2015 News

I'm happy to share with you some exciting developments which happened recently.

Victoria and me are expecting a little boy in the November and we are eager to meet him. He's a very active little fellow and we're expecting to have a handful with him and his sisters.

If you live in the Charleston area, please join us for a great recital with the Montclaire String Quartet and guest pianist Victoria Fatu on September 3 at West Virginia State University Davis Fine Arts Concert Hall on the WVSU Campus or on September 6 at the Erma Byrd Gallery on the University of Charleston Campus. The program will include masterworks such as the Handel/Halvorsen Duo, Shostakovich Trio No. 2 and Dvorak Piano Quintet Op. 81.

This past June I participated in an audition held by the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and won the Assistant Concert Master position. I'm very excited about this new post within the orchestra and am looking forward to a great season with WVSO.

Lastly, I'm happy to announce that after a rigorous admission and interview procedure my wife Victoria Fatu was appointed as Piano Professor, Chair of the Piano Department at West Virginia State University this past July.
So it seems we'll be making Charleston, WV our home base after all.

Spring Recital News

We are thrilled to present a recital for the West Virginia University on April 27, 8:15 PM at the 

Bloch Performance Hall. 

Further details can be found at: wvu.edu

...continuing our recital series in West Virginia we're happy to present another one at the West Virginia State University, Davis Fine Arts Theater on April 26, 7:30 pm
Further details can be found at: wvsu.edu

The Montclaire String Quartet

You can find out more about the Montclaire String Quartet on this brand new webpage: http://www.montclairequartet.com

Montclaire String Quartet and West Virginia Symphony Orchestra

I am very excited to announce that starting this August I will join the Montclaire String Quartet and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra as the Principal Second Violin. Even more, Victoria my wife will also start working for the West Virginia State University as Piano Teacher and Collaborating Piano Accompanist.
We are looking forward to an exceptional year with many performances and great moments on the stage!
You can find out more about the WV Symphony here: http://www.wvsymphony.org/meet-the-orchestra

The Sion Festival 50th Edition

We are thrilled to announce that Victoria and I have passed the preliminary auditions and have been invited to be one of the ten duos that will perform in the "A Feast of Duos!" Competition which will mark the 50th anniversary of the Sion Festival in Switzerland. You can find out more about this event on their website at: www.Sion-Festival.ch
We're looking forward to meet the world famous Igudesman and Joo which will jury this event together with other proeminent european musical personalities. It will be a great honor to participate and perform in this Festival. More to come...