★★★ This album is on the TopTen Chopin albums by Gramophone Magazine ★★★

Brazilian of Romanian origin (his parents fled Romania during the dictatorship), Cristian Budu combines Brazil’s new and joyful spirit with the mystical depth of his country of origin. Born into a family of Romanian nobility (although his mother relinquished her title as Princess…), Cristian Budu is the epitome of a generation of musicians sensitive to sharing and to the democratization of music, particularly through his convivial project of « music at home » (pianosofia.com)

In 2013, he half-heartedly entered his first competition (barely a few months before reaching the age limit) and, to his great surprise, won it. Now a Clara Haskil Prize Winner, he has joined the very elite club of Romanian pianists who mix fervour, modesty and selflessness.

He signs herewith his first studio recording, in the legendary Salle de Musique in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland), around Beethoven and Chopin.

Young brazilian of Romanian origin, Cristian Budu is an outstanding pianist of his generation. A passionate communicator owner of remarkable artistry, his colorful playing and sensitive pianism have achieved international recognition. At early age he was awarded first prizes in multiple national contests like the Nelson Freire Competition or the Preludio Competition at Cultura TV.

In September 2013 he won the prestigious Clara Haskil Piano Competition in Switzerland. Amongst laureates of previous editions are names like Richard Goode, Christoph Eschenbach, Till Fellner, Martin Helmchen and Evgeny Korolyov. Besides the Grand Prize, he was also awarded the Children’s Corner prize and the Audience Prize.

Cristian already appeared as a soloist with the Suisse Romande Orchestra, the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, the Minas Gerais Philarmonic Orchestra. In the United States, he had solo appearances in Jordan Hall, at the Rockport Music Festival , also taught a masterclass at the Massachusetts University and gave recitals of solo and chamber music in Boston, New York, and several other states. Recently he played with the Radio- Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart and at the Fränkische Musiktage Alezenau.

Future engagements include among others a concert with the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, a recital in Basel and a duo concert with Esther Hoppe in Zug, as well as an invitation at the International Festival Clara Haskil in Sibiu and at the Zermatt Festival.

Cristian received sponsorships from important institutions like ‘Young at Arts’ for the presentation at the ‘Athenee Hall’ in Bucharest with the Ermil Nichifor Orchestra, ‘Goethe Institut’ upon winning the Cultura TV ‘Preludio’ Competition, and ‘Zfunot Tarbut’ that brought him to Israel to perform with Semion Gavrilov, principal violinist of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Cristian was invited as well to the First Meeting of Young Pianists of the Mercosul, in Argentina, and also to open the ‘Piano Solo’ series of Cristina Ortiz in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

14 While growing up in Brazil, Cristian met the Brazilian popular artist Antonio Nobrega who introduced him to the rich universe of national folk traditions. Cristian became a student of his school, the “Brincante Institute” in Sao Paulo, where he studied and had close contact with many different styles of Brazilian dances and rhythms for more than 4 years. This period had a strong influence in his development and brought an unique trait to his artistic personality. In Boston Cristian is part of a Quartet specialized in Brazilian music that in 2013 won the Honors Competition of the New England Conservatory at the ‘Contemporary improvisation’ category.

Cristian graduated from the University of Sao Paulo, where he had as professor the pianist Eduardo Monteiro. In the United States he became Master in Pianistic Performance with Wha´Kyung Byun, being granted a special scholarship from the New England Conservatory in Boston.