Alexander Balanescu: violin, viola
James Shenton: violin
Andrei Parker: viola
Nicholas Holland: cello
Steve Arguelles: percussion
video artist: Klaus Obermaier

A narration of the little known story of Maria Tanase, in music and images. The singer and actress (1913-1963), was named the 'Edith Piaf of Bucharest' and bewitched the Romanian people in the fifties. Now the celebrated musician and composer, Alexander Balanescu, pays tribute to her by dedicating his album and a performance (enriched by the images of the video-artist Klaus Obermaier) to her. Balanescu was born in Romania in 1950 and in 1969 settled in the UK where he began a career as musician and composer. He immediately established close relationships with the English avant-garde, notably playing as first violin for Michael Nyman. In 1992 he began to record for Mute Records and in 1994 released Luminitza, an album in which he used folk material as the principal inspiration.
In the wake of this, Maria T was born, a work that represents Balanescu's reconnection with his roots. His verve as composer and arranger has allowed him to create an exquisitely modern work, using echoes and material from the repertory of Maria Tanase. The Italian preview took place at the Piccolo Regio Puccini di Torino theatre in November 2005. The live performance includes images from the repertoire, of Bucharest in the fifties and snatches of Maria Tanase concerts. Thus, the piece is not just a tribute to Maria Tanase but to Romanian culture itself.
Balanescu's close investigation of the life and work of Maria T. reveals and redefines the marvellous and contradictory Romanian soul and brings to life the cultural and political atmosphere of Romania during the Second World War and during the transition towards Communism.