About

Razvan Stoica

"A new star is born, RAZVAN STOICA"

Los Angeles Times

Razvan Stoica

Artistic director and founder "Het Kamerata Stradivarius Orkest"
Artistic director festival "Stradivarius at Cantacuzino"
Founder of Strad Montana Masterclasses
Cultural Ambasador "Gaudium Animae" foundation
Artist in residence Montferlandcultuur Netherlands 25/26

Razvan Stoica is one of the most exciting and sought-after musicians of our time. He has performed as soloist with the world's leading conductors and orchestras.

His recent highlights include performances with the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonic, Slovenian Philharmonic, Netherlands Philharmonic, Sanremo Symphony Orchestra, Slovenian Radio Orchestra, Romanian Radio Orchestra, as well as the Beethoven Academy Orchestra, Essen Philharmonic and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.

Born in a family with great musical tradition, Razvan got his first violin lesson from his father at the age of five. Six years later, Modest Iftinchi (pupil of David Oistrakh) accepted Razvan in his class, despite being the youngest student. After graduating in Bucharest, he continued his studies in Amsterdam with world-renowned violinist Ilya Grubert (pupil of Leonid Kogan). During his student years, he followed masterclasses with Ivry Gitlis, Igor Oistrakh, Zakhar Bron and Krzysztof Wegrzyn.

Razvan’s talent and passionate interpretation brought him out into the light of the classical music world stage as being the real, well-known, appreciated, best new talent of 2013, receiving this reward in October 2013, in Slovakia, at the EURORADIO Competition

As a recording artist, Razvan, continues to build a distinguished catalogue of recordings including his critically acclaimed recording of the 24 Caprices by Niccolo Paganini and the „Symphony Español” for violin and orchestra Op. 21 by Edouard Lalo together with the Beethoven Academy Orchestra Krakow.

In 1996, he joined his sister, the pianist Andreea Stoica, forming the successful „Duo Stoica”. Razvan and Andreea Stoica are frequently present in concerts in The Gewandhaus Leipzig, Het Concertgebouw Amterdam, Berlin Konzerthaus, De Doelen Rotterdam or the Musikverein Wien.

In 2010, Razvan Stoica founded the Dutch ensemble “Kamerata Stradivarius” which brought him on stage in a double posture: as a soloist and conductor, touring Europe and Asia.

In 2017, Razvan recorded the Paganini 24 Caprices for the Hollywood production „Strad Style” that received prizes in more than 20 Film festivals. In 2021, Răzvan Stoica, together with Andreea Stoica and Kamerata Stradivarius premiered their last CD: Lost in translations, produced by the Romanian Broadcasting Company.

Razvan is currently performing on the Stradivari 1729 violin and bow's from Max Moller & Tourte, kindly offered by Montferland Cultuurfonds

Duo

The Story of Duo

Formed in 1991, Răzvan and his sister Andreea Stoica have enchanted audiences worldwide as Duo Stoica. Known for their remarkable unity, they create a singular, harmonious sound where the violin and piano blend as one. Their exceptional talent has graced prestigious venues like Mozarteum Salzburg, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and Salle Pleyel Paris. Their recent performances have taken them from the elegance of Paris to the exotic Maldives and Sri Lanka, as well as the United States and across Europe. Their unique sound and musical synergy continue to captivate and inspire.

Duo

Andreea Stoica

Andreea Stoica’s journey in music began at the age of five when her father gave her the first piano lessons. Her natural gift was intuitively obvious, and in the age of six she started her education at George Enescu Conservatory of Music (Lyceum) in Bucharest.

It didn’t take long since she began appearing as a performer and at the age of twelve came the debut with Mozart’s piano concertos with Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra. Many other recitals and concert tours followed before she came back to study in Bucharest Music University that she graduated from in 1999 and The Conservatorium van Amsterdam where she finished her studies in 2006.

During this time Andreea Stoica participated in master courses in Italy, Germany, Korea, and Netherlands with leading pianists like Maurizio Pollini, Constantine Ionescu Vovu, Paul Badura-Skoda, Anatol Ugorski and Andre Previn. She became a laureate of several prestigious completions, her effortless power, speed, and precision, combined with emotional depth and lyricism have earned her a quick acclaim and already while studying she started an intensive touring activity throughout all Europe, in both solo programs and performances with orchestras.

During all these concert tours, Andreea Stoica has received a high critical acclaim for her versatile performing as recitalist, orchestra soloist and chamber musician. She is a frequent guest at numerous festivals worldwide, performing music by composers of different epochs and styles from baroque to modern. Under her best interpretations are Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Debussy, Ravel, Rachmaninov, Enescu, Khachaturian, and Prokofiev.

Among others she performed in Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France, Swiss, Poland, Romania, Israel, Greece, Bulgaria, and the USA, inspiring the audience in many of the important concert halls like Concertgebouw Amsterdam, De Doelen Rotterdam, Tivoli Utrecht, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Konzerthaus Berlin, Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Teatro Regio di Torino, Filarmónica de A Coruña, Carnegy Hall New York, Musikverein Wien, Musiktheater Linz, Mozarteum Salzburg, Concertgebouw Brügge, Salle Pleyel de Paris, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Beethovenhalle Bonn, Tonhalle Zürich, Bukarest Philharmonic, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Palais des Beaux-Arts Brussels, to name a few. more information on: www.andreeastoica.com

Stradivarius 1729 Ex Ernst

"Ex-Ernst" Stradivarius made by Antonio Stradivari in 1729. The history of this instrument is documented from the time it was in the possession of "H.W. ERNST" (1812-1865), a Moravian-Jewish violinist, violist and composer. He was seen as the outstanding violinist of his time and one of Niccolò Paganini's greatest successors. He contributed to polyphonic playing and discovered new ways to compose polyphonic violin music. His most famous, and technically difficult, compositions include the sixth of his Polyphonic Studies "Die letzte Rose", and Grand Caprice on Schubert's "Erlkönig".

Later, the "Ex-Ernst" came into the hands of the Royal instrument maker Franz Rampftler in Munich, after which the Bavarian judge von Knörzinger and his family owned it for many years. In 1922 the Stradivarius was bought by Victo Ernst, at the time a resident of Berlin, who dies three years later. In the book How Many Strads (1945) the violin is described as being in the possession of his family in Amsterdam. Victor Ernst's wife and children survive the Second World War and emigrate to the United States before 1950. They finally sell the instrument in 1961 to Irving Johannes, an American violin collector living in New York and Salzburg.

Press reviews

Review Het Luister - The Netherlands 2023

” A Stradivari with Passion ” review in Luister Magazine

So hot the first CD that the young Romanian violinist Razvan Stoica which was made in summer of 2012 in Krakow with the Beethoven Academy Orchestra conducted by Alexander Happiness. It is a fantastic debut album, which recalls the violin virtuoso’s of yesteryear. The intensity, instrumental sophistication and musical freedom that Stoica ‘Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso “by Saint-Sains, the” Tzigane “by Ravel and the” Symphony espagnole “by Lalo plays, places him in the line of great violinists as Ivry Gitlis, Vadim Repin, József Lendvay, Leonidos Kavakos and, shimmering in the distance, even legendary violinists like Yehudi Menuhin and Jascha Heifetz.

Spring 2018 was followed by the equally impressive CD recording of the 24 Capricci by Paganini, which are fireworks Stoica reared in ancient Paganini interpreter Ruggiero Ricci. And this summer appears the third album “Capriccioso”, which showcases his versatility Stoica in virtuoso, jazzy or lyrical gems include Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Faure, Paganini, Chausson, Pärt, Piazzolla and Grapelli. His five years older sister Andreea accompanies him on the piano. The blood musical duo creates the impression from an early age to fully matched and attuned to.

Concertgebouw Concert

” Duo Stoica in Concertgebouw Amsterdam - November 2021

I’ve received an invitation from the Classical Music Journal to attend the concert of violin virtuoso Razvan Stoica and concert pianist Andreea Stoica in Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam on the 16th November 2012.

Both musicians give of their utmost and, when the musicians in question are Razvan and Andreea, that makes for something exceptional.

The concert started with a passionate rendition of Schubert monumental “Grand Duo” Sonata. They are both well matched as chamber musicians, and both performed with fiery commitment and technical aplomb in this sonata. It was a warmer rendition of this sonata then Janine Jansen and Itamar Golan and more virtuoso then Repin and Lugansky. Duo Stoica knows how to build up suspans and when to let the music flow.

Next number of the concert was the Infernal “Carmen” concert fantasy by Waxman/Bizet. The piece was originally written for Jascha Heifetz. Razvan got his virtuosity at its highest.

Amsterdam classical music journal

"When I would say that Carmen Fantasy have more warmth and passion then in Heifetz recording , then all the people would say that i am subjective. I might be , but please when you have the opportunity to hear this amazing violinist play you would go and you will understand what I meant.

The second part I had the chance to hear one of the best interpretation of Fratres by Arvo Part as well as an amazing Meditation from suvenir de un lieu cher by Tchaykovsky. Changes of colors and dialog with the piano which became the perfect partner for Razvan. I understand now why they play together. They are the ideal duo: Andreea’s virtuosity response perfect to the brilliance of Razvan and vice-versa.

They finished the concert in the style of the great artist’s of the 20th Century like Kogan, Ferras and Heifetz , the Concert piece “Tzigane ” by Maurice Ravel.

I attend very often the Concertgebouw concert but this one with Duo Stoica really impressed me…"

Marianne van der Steen - Amsterdam classical music journal

Razvan Stoica violinist/conductor “Het Kamerata Stradivarius orchestra ” Oldenzaal January 2020

Today’s world is filled with violinists . But what Stoica brings is a tone that seems sent from God — bright, sweet and as pure as can be. The Wieniawsky violin concerto No.2 A challenging masterpiece.The beginning of the concerto : Moderato was played in a personal style with nuances of vibrato and amazing depth into the dark sound of his Stradivarius violin. I first heard this concerto back 20 years ago with Igor Oistrakh and I was touched my his refinement. But Stoica had it all: the golden tone, the immaculate technique, the beautiful line, and something else; live, he radiated emotion.

In the second movement “Romance” my eyes where in tears. Just in the middle I closed my eyes and the young who was on stage I heard it like a 70 year old men that lived his whole life and now is sharing with us his experiences of a lifetime. I loved the interplay with orchestra and conductor. I was also intrigued by his changes of vibrato colors: a painter with sound.

In The finale : allegro a la zingara, Stoica’s virtuosity made a break out. Down-bow Staccati, scales, arpeggios, all performed with impeccable clarity . Stoica by contrast celebrates gesture, risking control, musical architecture and line in order to attempt faster attack, harder connection of the bow through the string, and greater tonal extremes. His brilliance finally had space to stretch, his expressiveness given reason and scope to justify it.

Frans Wagenaar

The Strad Magazine

Description: A Romanian violinist proves his virtuoso mettle in solo Paganini
Musicians: Razvan Stoica (violin)
Composer: Paganini

Paganini’s music is a proving ground for virtuosity and this, surely, is what ensures its enduring appeal. Razvan Stoica’s approach to the Caprices here suggests that virtuosity is his motivation, particularly when contextualised by hyperbolic booklet-notes about this alumnus of the Enescu Conservatoire in Bucharest and former

pupil of Ilya Grubert in Amsterdam. Indeed, there is much here that seems to make such comments justified. Stoica is a committed player with a fantastic command of up-bow staccato and ricochet bow strokes, as in Caprices nos.1 and 7, for example. There is some impressively fast playing – as in nos.4 and 16 – and the awkward no.17, which catches out the very best, is well managed here. Tone production throughout is strong and clean.

That said, I didn’t much enjoy the hectoring timbre throughout the disc, and feel that these works merit greater musical sensitivity and variation, interlacing outright virtuosity with Paganini’s early Romantic poignancy.

David Milsom