Jean-Baptiste ARBAN: Variations on Bellini’s Norma – Fantaisie Brillante – Cavatina from Mercadante’s Zaira – Fantaisie and Variations on The Carnival of Venice – Fantaisie and Variation on Acteon – Variations on a Tyrolean Song

Eric Urfer, Cornet – Guy Bovet, Piano

Jean-Baptiste ARBAN (1825-1899)
Born in Lyon and having enjoyed renown and popularity during the 19th century, Jean-Baptiste Arban subsequently sank into oblivion. Virtuoso cornet-player, orchestra conductor, composer, and arranger, professor at the National Superior Conservatory of Paris, he was at the same time a tireless seeker, in his endeavors to improve the facture of brass instruments. His extensive method for cornet and saxhorn is famous throughout the world and has even been transcribed into Braille.

Born in 1946, Eric URFER won the prize for virtuosity at the Geneva Conservatory in 1971. During the same year, he became Solo Trumpeter to the Costa-Rica Symphony Orchestra. He later held the position of First Trumpet in the St. Gallen (Switzerland) Symphony Orchestra and in 1980, he became the Solo Trumpeter of the RAI (Broadcasting) Symphony Orchestra in Turin (Italy).

Guy BOVET, born 1949, studied piano with his aunt Jeanne Bovet, and later organ with Marie Dufour, Pierre Segond, and in Paris with Marie-Claire Alain, where he finished with the first prize for virtuosity. He is regularly heard in all European countries, the URSS, North and South America. As a pedagogue and professor, he visits universities in Europe and America.