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Via Nova -- that is Alexander Kamenarov, Georgi Varbanov, Rupert Struber und Johannes Eder. The percussion ensemble unites two nations - Bulgaria, Austria - and was founded in 2003 in Salzburg. The name is significant: Since the very beginning the four musicians decided to take new ways with their instruments to establish the position of the often undervalued percussion with its variety of sound possibilities.
„Via Nova lets the drums sing": The four young virtuosos have convinced audiences and critics in their TV broadcasts with MDR and ZDF (Germany), in Radio live-broadcasts with RAI (Italy) and Ö1 (Austria) and in their concerts at prestigious festivals as the Festival Echternach (Luxemburg), the Salzburg Festival, the Carinthischer Musiksommer (Austria), the les muséiques (Basel), the Sofia Weeks for Chamber Music (Bulgaria), the Finca Festival Gran Canaria (Spain), the Musicastello (Italy), the Taipei International Percussion Convention (Taiwan), the Hong Kong Drum Festival. Wether with choir, orchestra, instrumental and singing soloists or alone, Via Nova always fills its audiences with enthusiasm about its sensibility for various styles, its variety in expression and its overwhelming stage presence. The ensemble playing is equal to any string quartet.
Via Nova sticks to the meaning of its name and steadily broadens its repertoire through commissions and excellent arrangements. „One can hardly play a better Bach on percussion!" claimed the Luxemburger Wort having heard the ensemble's interpretation of Bach's Fuga Nr. 20 from the Welltempered Clavecin. The quartet is also in demand with cross-over projects. Via Nova has collaborated with photographer Konrad Laimer and two composers, Eduard Demetz and Herbert Grassl, in 2006 and 2007 for two incomparable projects combining photographic art and contemporate music which is performed live on stage.
An abundance of ideas and the sense for authenticity in performing music are united in this extraordinary ensemble. It has been honoured therefore with the 1st prize and two supplementary prizes at the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg 2005. The warmest appreciation though is always given by the audience: „The listeners were besides themselves. Standing upright they clapped for three encores, one more gripping than the other. A fantastic percussion concert! See you soon, you natural players of the Via Nova Percussion Group!"