"James Strauss is hands down the best flautist
I have ever had the pleasure of working with. He is certainly one of the
best flute players in the world, with an unbelievable sense of musicianship,
impeccable intonation, and the purest tone quality you could ever hope
for. He is a true, true master of his craft."
Maestro Jeffrey Dokken - Symphony
Orchestra of Northern Virginia
“The Lang Lang
of the Flute “
Arizona Daily Star
Brazilian
flutist James Strauss has made a spectacular ascent in the world of
classical music as a solo artist, champion of the concerto repertoire, chamber.
Combining consummate
technique with rare sensitivity and depth, his performances are a perpetual
source of awe. “The Lang Lang of the flute” says the Arizona Daily Star ."
Un grand bravo! An authentic Latin representative of
the French School of Flute " said
Jean Pierre Rampal. Those fortunate enough to hear Brazilian flutist James Strauss
immediately agree with the French Master appreciation; it´s an extraordinary
display of erudite musicianship allied with an innate sense of communication
through Art. Strauss is a musician with an equal flair for sweetness, elegance
and whatever extremes possible inside the concept of dramatic intimacy all
filtered through an honest and sincere skill to properly conceptualize a work.
His repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary Masters in addition to
endeavors in Brazilian and South American folk that perfectly reflects the many
facets of his abilities in solo, chamber or concerto performances. James Strauss
is the first Brazilian flutist to ever be conceded a Diplomme de Concertiste by
the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He was one of very few last disciples of
Jean-Pierre Rampal. Strauss was laureate with a scholarship by the French
government for the Conservatoire de Paris and for the École Normale de Musique Alfred Cortot de Paris where he studied
with Pierre-Yves Artaud, Alain Marion, Genevieve Martigny,Maurice Pruvot, Lazlo Hadadi, Bernard Andrés and later masterclasses with
Mstislav Rostropovich, Ransom Wilson, Michel Moragues, Michel Debost, and Lars
Nilsson. Strauss was laureate in many international competitions and awards as:
· *
UFAM – Concours International de Musique de
Chamber 1st Prize
· *
UFAM – Concours International de Flute 1st
Prize ( France )
· *
Concours International de la Ville de
Lempdes – best interpretation of contemporary piece ( France)
· *
Concours du jeune Flutiste 2st prize - Morangis
(
France)
· *
Premio Carlos Gomes – Brazil
· *
Huesped Ilustre de la Ciudad de Guayaquil ( Ecuador)
Strauss
has a special interest in new music and unconventional repertoire, which has
led many composers to dedicate works to him including the world or local
premières of works by Philip Glass, Alexander Arutiunian Nicole Randall, Solfa
Carlile, Sean Hickey, Glenn Roger Davis, Ricardo Tacuchian, Philip Czaplowski, Dimitri Cervo, Julio Medaglia, Charles
Chaynes, Jean Françaix, Thorkel Sigibjornsson, Ezequiel Diz, Betholven Cunha and many others. He gave the modern première
on the piccolo of the fourth piccolo concerto by Antonio Vivaldi, discovered by
the French musicologist Jean Cassignol. He is regularly featured in the
international press, as guest on NPR's Performance Today, Bowed Radio, WGUC FM ,
RADIO FRANCE INERNATIONAL, Radio Classique and he were host and performer on the Musical
TV show in Brazil Musicas que elevam at the REDE MUNDIAL. The Falls House
Press/Theodore Presser Company published James Strauss's discovery and
reconstruction of the Concertstuck for flute by Tchaikovsky. Strauss has been guest soloist
with orchestras including: Capriccioso Chamber Ensemble (Finland), Orchestre de
Chambre de Paris (France), Israeli Virtuosi (Israel), Orchestre Philharmonic de
Sibiu (Romania), Oxford Chamber Orchestra (UK), Tokyo Chamber Orchestra (Japan),
Orquestra Sinfonica do Recife”( Brazil), Orquestra Sinfonica de São José dos
Campos ( Brazil), Bachiana Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica de Guayaquil (
Ecuador) ,Orquesta Sinfonica de Cuenca (
Ecuador) , Orquestra Sinfonica de Venezuela, Orquesta Sinfonica de Xalapa ( exico)
Orquestra
Sinfonica do Teatro Nacional de Brasilia and many others. Respected for his
inspiring teaching, Strauss has taught master classes and performed recitals
for universities and flute societies, such Miami University (USA), Iceland
Academy of Arts ( Iceland), Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris ( France), the
Festival Eleazar de Carvalho Fortaleza CEARA (Brazil) - Londrina Music Festival
(Brazil), Venezuela Simon Bolivar Conservatory. As music critics say, “He has an astonishing tone
color, beautifully rich and thick sound and he imparts a shimmering brilliance
to his music...” This emotional and technically
superb musician performs as a concert soloist all over the world, with his
virtuoso flute. James Strauss is one of the most brilliant artists of his
generation. Active recording artist for Universal Music Group Artist – He did
already 10 cds with artists as Israeli Virtuosi ( Tchaikovsky and Brazilian
flute concertos) , Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica
de Venezuela , Ada Pelleg, Regina Glasunova, Miyo Umezu, Alfonso Lopez, Camerata
Simon Bolivar and others. Actually Strauss is bases in Vienna - Austria he enjoys a multi-faceted career
as a leading soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and teacher.
Critics :
“James
Strauss, the
visiting flutist from Brazil showed fluent mastery of his instrument.With the
solo Partita in a minor BWV 1013. More was to come: things started to happen ,
when the two artists arrived onstage to present their interpretation of the b
minor sonata BWV1030. The melodic arches of the slow Largo movement emerged
spacious & expressive from Strauss's flute. The
somewhat stolid Finale benefited beautifully from pianist's motoric skill.”
Keskisuomalainen
Finland
Caro
James
,
Finalmente trovo il tempo di scrivere a rispetto della splendida esecuzione
del Concerto di Tchaikovsky. Fin dall'inizio ho capito che devo esserti grato
per la scoperta di questo gioiello musicale.
Ma
a parte cio', volevo sottolineare l'ottima qualita' del suono, del tuo flauto
come dell'orchestra israeliana. Trovo che l'atmosfera del Concerto e' stata
resa molto bene, e tutto e' eseguito in una maniera talmente elegante e piena
di buon gusto che chi ascolta puo' rilassarsi e godere la musica di Tchaikovsky.
Ho apprezzato anche la misura e l'equilibrio di una cadenza che poteva
facilmente diventare una semplice dimostrazione di bravura fine a se stessa e
che nella tua registrazione invece, scorre semplicemente e
elegantemente.
Grazie per questa registrazione che dovrebbe
arricchire qualunque amante della buona musica.
Sinceramente,
EMMANUELE
BALDINI
concertmaster/spalla – OSESP
Oxford Chamber Orchestra : An Night with James Strauss
"The concert was indeed "An Evening with James Strauss,"
as he was featured in every piece save the first, the Prelude from Bachianas
Brasileiras No. 4 by Villa-Lobos, played warmly by the OCO strings under
the direction of
Ricardo
Averbach
. In the
five works that Strauss played with the OCO, he proved himself in
excellent control of technique, nuance, and color. The most impressive work of
the evening, the Concerto for Violin, Cembalo and Strings by Haydn
transcribed for flute, piano, and strings, was elegant and highly polished.
Pianist
Siok Lian Tan
, impeccable in her own performance in style,
rhythmic control, and touch, followed Strauss's every move. Averbach and
the OCO strings were locked in as well, catching each phrase. It was an
excellent performance, and was followed by several encores featuring Tan
and Strauss together. The three works that followed the Concertstück,
Tchaikovsky's Lensky's Aria from Eugene Onegin , Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight
of the Bumblebee , and Dinicu's Hora staccato, all transcribed and
arranged by the soloist, again pointed to his technical and musical prowess,
and earned him a standing ovation. His own set of variations on The
Carnival of Venice, played acappella, brought the audience to its feet once
again.
James Ocolt
Miami University Press