Composer and Pianist Marina Arsenijevic
“On the last day of bombing, Marina introduced her composition KOSOVO to a weeping audience in Belgrade with tears flowing from her eyes.”
Marina Arsenijevic: My Balkan Soul
Serbian composer and pianist Marina Arsenijevic, whose new album “Fire and Soul” will be introduced on PBS on March 4, is regarded as one of Europe’s most exciting musical talents who completed an unprecedented one-year 75-city concert tour throughout Europe.
Born in Belgrade, Serbia, she was recognized as a child prodigy and played her first concert at the age of nine before an audience of 2000. She went on to win first prize in six international piano competitions. Marina’s recordings of Mozart with the St. Petersburg Soloists and Chopin became top selling classical CDs in Eastern Europe.
As a composer, Marina created a new genre of music, the ethno-classical style, whereby she combined diverse ethnic rhythms with traditional classical themes and techniques. This resulted in her recording “My Balkan Soul”, which sold over 500,000 copies becoming the best selling classical-crossover CD in 11 European countries.
Marina’s goal is to bring “unity in the face of diversity” through her music. Many ethnically diverse rhythms and themes are uniquely and seamlessly interwoven into Marina’s compositions. Her music boldly proclaims the existence of a common humanity for all people in conflict, regardless of the political, religious or ethnic struggles that engulf them. Marina hopes to accomplish her mission of unifying diverse groups by reminding all people of the common humanity that is portrayed in their music.