This album was recorded in December 2023 at Cedars Hall, Wells Cathedral School, with Nick Parker as producer and Mike Hatch as recording engineer.
Performer Biography
Zlatomir Fung, the cellist on this album, was the first American in four decades and the youngest musician ever to win First Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition Cello Division.
Interpretation
The album's concept originated during the 2020 Covid lockdowns, when cellist Zlatomir Fung reassessed his technique by studying 19th-century virtuosos and discovered opera fantasies.
Instruments
Zlatomir Fung performs on a circa 1730 cello by Domenico Montagnana, which is on loan from a generous benefactor.
Performer Biography
Richard Fu, the pianist on this album, grew up wanting to be a lawyer and studied political science before falling in love with classical music while abroad in Vienna.
Compositional Technique
Opera fantasies from the early- and mid-19th century used recognizable tunes from famous operas to create free medleys, with few rules beyond expressing the composer's personality and strengths as a cellist.
