2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Astonishingly Accomplished, August 22, 2005
This review is from: Barinya (Audio CD)
Eppler, as a young man, toured Eastern Europe with the Bulgarian National Ensemble. He played a solo concert at Carnegie Hall on his 25th birthday. He has won numerous awards for his fiery balalaika playing, from all over the world. Toured North America, Asia and Europe with, among others, the Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival, the Aman Folk Ensemble and his own Alex Eppler Group. Also founded a music school in Haskovo, Bulgaria. On this his only solo album (so far) he plays a selection of traditional and original duets for balalaika and acoustic guitar (with Kimbal Dykes, guitar). In concert he is a riveting presence.
As if this weren't enough, Eppler is also a world-class cimbalom player, and has won almost as many awards and accolades for this other career.
And if that isn't enough, he is ALSO one of the world's foremost flute-makers from his base in Seattle, having made and sold wooden flutes for all of the world's great virtuosos.
In person he is modest and genuinely warm. That's the only thing that makes it impossible to hate him for his unbelievable brilliance.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5.0 out of 5 stars
I knew him when, February 18, 2009
This review is from: Barinya (Audio CD)
I first heard Alexander Eppler play the balalaika when I was a classmate of his in gradeschool in Seattle. Little did we know that we'd been sitting in class with such a musical prodigy. We called him "Alex" then but when he played his balalaika, even at age 11, he was amazing and his full name (Alexander Illitch Eppler) made more sense to us. I'm delighted to enjoy his music, now 40+ years later. Try listening to it with a roaring fire in the fireplace. It's a special experience.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
