Ovidiu Marinescu conducts the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s dramatic Symphony no. 5 and Marche Slave. The Russian musicians play brilliantly in this recording. “ I’m impressed by the variety of colors you elicit in the opening movement and the effective contrasts that result, which seem suitable for this rather moody work.” TAXI Conductor Ovidiu Marinescu, one of the outstanding musicians of his native Romania, combines a precise technique with great musical inspiration. He is the Director of the West Chester University Symphony, which under his leadership made a sold out debut at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and embarked in its first European tour. Subsequently, the orchestra was invited to participate in the prestigious Catania International Festival in Sicily, Italy. He served as the conductor for the Wilmington Orchestra between 2003 and 2007, as the Music Director of the Manalapan Orchestra in New Jersey, and Principal Conductor of the Goppisberg Festival Orchestra in Switzerland. His guest conducting includes the Bacau and Brasov Philharmonics in Romania, and Orquesta de Extremadura in Spain, both as conductor and soloist. Marinescu led the Delaware Chamber Orchestra in its first tour abroad, with performances for the South Bohemia Festival in the Czech Republic. This season Marinescu has conducted the world premiere of the ballet Helen Keller by The Rebecca David Ballet Company in Philadelphia. Known for his powerful interpretations of orchestral works by Russian composers, Marinescu was invited to record Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no. 5 and Marche Slave with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra in Moscow. Soon to be released are CD’s with orchestral music by Stephen Limbaugh III, David Laganella, and Andrea Clearfield, also recorded in Moscow, and orchestral music by Samuel Barber. He has developed several programs for young audiences, including a narrated version of Lt. Kije by Prokofiev. Equally outstanding as a cellist, Marinescu was chosen to play at Carnegie Hall for Romanian President Constantinescu on an official visit to the United States. Soon after, he made his debut with the New York Chamber Symphony in Beethoven's Triple Concerto, followed by recitals in Merkin Hall (New York), Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. After his debut with the National Radio Orchestra of Romania in 2001 in the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto, which was broadcast live on “Romania Cultural” radio station, he returned to perform "Ipostaze 3" by Adrian Iorgulescu, followed last season by a performance of his own arrangement of the Mozart Concerto in G Major. Most recently, Marinescu played Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and the Slobodkin Center. Other performances this season include appearances as a soloist with the Kiev Philharmonic (Ukraine) and Helena Symphony in the Elgar Concerto. His critically acclaimed first recording "Fiesta Latina" was followed by a recording of the complete Miaskovsky cello works with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra and pianist Kenneth Boulton released by Cambria. Marinescu has performed at festivals in Luzerne, Bayreuth, Chautauqua, South Bohemia, Orlando and Brasov, as well as New Hampshire Music Festival. Active as a chamber musician, between 1995 and 2002 Marinescu was a member of Adirondack Ensemble, a year-around resident group in New York State that performed over 200 concerts, presented school programs and founded Adirondack Music Camp. Currently, he performs with Trio Casals and Trio Lipatti. A product of the illustrious Romanian National Academy of Music, he won first prize and Music Critics' Award in the George Dima Cello Competition. In the United States, he studied with Wolfgang Laufer at the University of Wisconsin, and with Orlando Cole, at Temple University. Marinescu has been honored in Romania with invitations to perform with many renowned orchestras including the orchestras of Cluj, Iasi and Brasov. In addition, he has toured with Bucharest Symphony. Ovidiu Marinescu feels a strong commitment to expanding the cello repertoire by making transcriptions of works such as Mozart violin concerti and in supporting the composition of new music. He has commissioned and performed many new works, among which are those of Lawrence Moss and Jae-Wook Kim, as well as those of his brother, Liviu Marinescu. In December of 2000, Mr. Marinescu premiered with Newark Symphony a new work for cello and orchestra, "Anecdote," by Hilary Tann, and gave the first performance of “Ostinato” by Liviu Marinescu with “Orchestra 2001” in Philadelphia. Marinescu is on faculty at West Chester University.