Wednesday, November 5, 2025
7:00 p.m.
Graham Tyler Chapel, Park University, Parkville, MO
Internationally acclaimed pianist Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich and award-winning violinist Cristian Fatu join forces for an evening of inspired performance and exceptional artistry. Lisovskaya-Sayevich, Director of Collaborative Piano at Park University’s International Center for Music, is praised for her “poetic touch and commanding musicianship.” Fatu, whose performances have graced stages from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl, is celebrated for his “radiant tone and expressive depth.” Together, they create an unforgettable musical dialogue—an elegant blend of precision, warmth, and passion that showcases the artistry of two world-class performers.
Program
Ave Maria by Charles Gounod (1818-93)/ Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750 )
Violin Sonata No. 8 in G Major, Op. 30 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Allegro assai
Tempo di minuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso
Allegro vivace
Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes Op. 47, No. 3 by Mieczyslaw Weinberg (1919–96)
INTERMISSION
Les Berceaux from 3 Songs, Op. 3, No. 1 by Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano by César Franck (1822–90)
I Allegretto ben moderato
II Allegro
III Ben moderato: Recitativo-Fantasia
IV Allegretto poco mosso
Devil’s Dance by John Williams (1932)
Biography
Cristian Fatu
From the historic venue of Carnegie Hall to the iconic studios of Hollywood, violinist Cristian Fatu weaves magic with his bow, painting musical landscapes that have captivated audiences across continents. Based in the Los Angeles area, this Romanian-born virtuoso serves as a distinguished faculty member at the Orange County (Calif.) School for the Arts and the Orange County Music and Dance. His versatility as a performer shines through whether he’s performing as a soloist or stepping in with the Pacific Symphony, adding classical elegance to LA Ballet productions or bringing film scores to life in the studio.
Numerous recording studios have witnessed Fatu’s violin voice blend with countless artists, breathing life into scores that enchant millions through film and television. His journey through America’s musical landscape led him to the heart of West Virginia, where from 2014-18, he led the Montclaire String Quartet as first violinist, while serving as concertmaster of the Charleston Chamber Orchestra and nurturing young talents at West Virginia State University.
A crowning moment in his artistic odyssey came in 2019, when the hallowed walls of the Kennedy Center resonated with the premiere of Mathew Jackfert’s Violin Concerto “A Black Bear Awakens in Winter” – a performance that showcased his ability to bring contemporary works to vivid life. His bow has danced under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl alongside Pink Martini, and his melodies have soared through the revered acoustics of Carnegie Hall with Ensemble Iberica.
His extraordinary talent has been recognized at more than 25 national and international competitions, with triumphs including the 2008 Kingsville International Competition and the “Remember Enescu” International Violin Competition in his native Romania. Beyond the stage, Fatu’s passion for his instrument leads him to explore its very soul as a member of the Violin Society of America Oberlin Acoustics Workshop. His musical lineage reads like a who’s who of violin mastery, having studied under luminaries such as Gil Shaham, Stefan Gheorghiu and Vladimir Spivakov, while earning his credentials from the National Music University of Bucharest, Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln in Germany and Park University’s International Center for Music. He plays on a 2018 Samuel Zygmuntowicz violin and a 2019 Jordan Hess violin.
Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich
Born into a Tashkent (Uzbekistan) musical family, Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich began studying piano at the age of 4. In 1985 she entered the Uspensky Central Music School in Tashkent. In 1993 she started attending a private school for young musicians in Moscow, and that same year received the first prize at the Chopin International Piano Competition in Göttingen, Germany. She entered the Tchaikovsky Special Music School in 1995, and two years later was accepted to the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory under the tutelage of Vera Gornostaeva, with whom she continued postgraduate study from 2002 to 2004. Lisovskaya-Sayevich also studied with Stanislav Ioudenitch at Park University.
In 1996 Lisovskaya-Sayevich received the first prize from the Nikolai Rubinstein International Piano Competition, and in 2007 the first prize at the Iowa Piano International Competition. She was awarded scholarships from the Rostropovich Foundation, the Spivakov Foundation and the Nikolai Petrov Foundation. She has also earned the laureate designation from the international program “New Names,” and the festival “Virtuoso 2000” in St. Petersburg, Russia. Lisovskaya-Sayevich has recorded at the Hessen Radio Station in Frankfurt, Germany, and at Orfei Radio in Moscow.
Lisovskaya-Sayevich has presented numerous solo recitals and has played as a soloist with orchestras in Austria, France, Japan, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Russia. She has participated in many music festivals, including the Bashmet Festival in Tours, France, “Wave 2000” in Japan, International Musical Arts Institute in Maine (USA), Killington Music Festival in Vermont (USA), “Ars Longa” and “Primavera Classica” in Moscow. She collaborated with such renowned musicians as Daniel Muller-Shott, Shmuel Ashkenazy, members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and many others. She now performs extensively in chamber music ensembles.
Lisovskaya-Sayevich is the Director of Collaborative Piano at the International Center for Music at Park University.
