Award-winning Performers Delight Audiences at New York’s Couture Fashion Week
September 2008’s Couture Fashion Week in New York City was a delightful three-day event of stunning fashion shows, top-notch entertainment and luxury art and product displays. The event, held in the elegant Majestic Ballroom of the Westin Times Square in the heart of the Big Apple, was well attended by diplomats, fashionistas, socialites and international press. In keeping with Couture Fashion Week’s tradition of presenting an international roster of distinguished participants, designers at this season’s event hail from Colombia, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Albania, India, Australia, Romania and the USA.
The list of live performers appearing at the latest Couture Fashion Week is also international in scope. Audiences were delighted by riveting performances by world-renowned violinist Alexander Markov, cellist Gjilberta Gelaj, singer Lara Janine, pianist Donna Weng Friedman, violinist Jane Hunt, The NTD-TV Chinese Lion Dance company, Chinese zither artist Xianzi Ai, and the acrobatic Aerial Duo/Mantryx.
“We are creating a unique ambience of art, luxury, fashion and the finest entertainment, says Andres Aquino, producer of Couture Fashion Week “ Renowned international performers add a dimension of class and fun bringing the event to the level of great entertainment, beyond just another round of fashion shows.” The producer, who also presents his own line of upscale evening wear at the event, expects Couture Fashion Week to reach new heights next season scheduled for February 13-15, 2009 at the world-famous Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Additional luxury fashion events are being planned for early 2009 in Las Vegas, Palm Beach and the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
More about the performers at September 2008’s Couture Fashion Week:
Alexander Markov has been hailed by critics and the public as one of the most celebrated virtuoso violinists in the world. A Gold Medal winner at the Paganini International Violin Competition, Mr. Markov has recorded six CDs as well as the DVD of the daunting twenty four Paganini Caprices (distributed internationally by Warner) and has performed at many of the world's most prestigious concert venues including Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall in New York, Barbican Hall in London and Musikverein in Vienna. Mr. Markov has performed as a soloist with many celebrated conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Ivan Fischer and Neemi Jarvi as well as with many internationally-acclaimed orchestras including The BBC Philharmonic and Montreal, Philadelphia, Jerusalem, Houston and Budapest Orchestras. He was featured in the widely acclaimed film The Art of Violin and has also appeared in concert with such luminaries as Martha Argerich. Mr. Markov has performed several times at Couture Fashion Week to enthusiastic audiences.
A native of Albania, classical cellist Gjilberta Gelaj has performed at Carnegie Hall as a member of the “Passionata Trio” in 2002 and 2003 and has given numerous solo, chamber music and orchestral performances throughout New York, New Jersey, Boston and Miami. In 2006, she became a member of the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed frequently at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall, and has toured extensively in South Korea. She has participated and performed in many master classes including with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
British-born violinist Jane Hunt is also known as the "Violin Venus." Making her debut at Carnegie Hall in 2007 and having appeared as a soloist at Radio City Music Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Cannes Film Festival and Sir Elton John's Lifeball Concert, the Violin Venus captivates audiences wherever she performs. Combining the beauty and refinement of classical music with the energy of folk and jazz, Ms. Hunt is an eclectic high-energy performer. She also appeared this summer at the 2008 U.S. Open Tennis tournament. appreciative and receptive audience.
Pianist Donna Weng Friedman has excited audiences all over the world with her dynamic temperament and charismatic style. She performed on three different occasions at this season’s Couture Fashion Week. She has appeared as a soloist with the Atlanta Symphony, Shanghai Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New Jersey Symphony to mention a few. Ms. Weng Friedman has concertized extensively throughout China, South America, Europe and the United States. She made her New York recital debut at the 92nd Street Y in the “Horizons” series. Her performing credits include recitals at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Caramoor Music Festival, Symphony Hall in Shanghai, the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida, Le Jeu de Paume in Fontainebleau, France and Tillett Gardens in St. Thomas, USVI. She will perform and preside as Artistic Director for the Music, Art and Technology festival during the Shanghai Expo 2010 in China.
Lara Janine, a "quadruple threat" (singer, actor, dancer and musician) and summa cum laude graduate from USC's Music Business program, is a native of Southern California. She recently returned to the States after a run as Elphaba in a special version of Wicked in Japan, while also performing her own music in the club scene. Other credits include Jasmine in Aladdin the Musical and Otilie in Dvorak in America to rave reviews. Her new album, It’s My Time, interweaves her classical piano and violin skills with hip-hop, and also features her song writing skills, as Ms. Janine wrote or co-wrote every track. Lara Janine's songs have been featured on Access Hollywood, Degrassi, Big Tunes 2008 Compilation, and How Do I Look? among others, and have garnered numerous accolades at the Orange County Music Awards. She is the voice of Mattel’s signing Barbie doll as well as the voice of Barbie in the upcoming movie Barbie and the Diamond Castle. Recently signed to On Track Sound, Ms. Janine sang her heart out before the Couture Fashion Week audience who showed its appreciation with thunderous applause.
AerialDuo/Mantryx are skilled aerialists and acrobats who have performed in over 70 countries; for millions live, and millions more through their appearances on most major television networks. In addition to their traditional stage performances, they have shared laughter, silliness, and the spectacle of circus arts at hospitals, orphanages, and veteran’s homes. Since their debut, they have become New York City's signature aerialists, having performed in Times Square, the Waldorf-Astoria, Central Park, the NASDAQ, South Street Seaport, and the Jacob Javits Center. The performers have created shows for Macy’s, Maxim, Bud Light, HX, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Gay Life Expo as well as for notable charities such as the USO, the Human Rights Campaign, the Children's Village and Chai Life. They have been a featured act at fashion events for JC Penney, Ralph Lauren and Couture Fashion Week, and in performances for Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg, Patti Labelle and more. The performers have been featured on CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, THC, MTV and Telemundo and they can been seen regularly at their resident venue, the world-famous New York City hotspot The Box.
Chinese-born guzhen (Chinese zither) performer Xianzi Ai, also known as the "Fairy" is a graduate of the famous performing arts school in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province. Ms. Ai has received a number of awards including the gold award in the July 2007 China Folk Instrument Solo Competition and third place in the 2005 Chinese Eastern Zither Competition. The guzhen is a traditional Chinese musical instrument and parent instrument to the Japanese koto, the Mongolian yatga, the Korean gayageum, and the Vietnamese đàn tranh.
Couture Fashion Week is a multi-day event showcasing couture and luxury fashion. It also includes exhibits of luxury brands and fine art as well as world-class entertainment and receptions. The event is held in top venues in New York City, Palm Beach and other selected cities and is attended by upscale consumers, invited VIPs, the press and high-end store buyers. Couture Fashion Week offers unique branding opportunities for luxury products and services. Additional information at http://www.CoutureFashionWeek.com