Laurence Kaptain has been widely heard as a percussionist, marimba soloist, and cimbalom (the Hungarian dulcimer) artist. He studied cimbalom in Budapest, Hungary-the principal city of the cimbalom.

In 1990-2009, he was featured with the Montreal Symphony in Carnegie Hall, the New York Philharmonic, the San Antonio, Boston, Rochester, and St. Louis Symphonies, the Philadelphia, Chautauqua Festival, and Minnesota Orchestras, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Summit Brass, Apsen Chamber Orchestra, Tanglewood Contemporary Music Festival, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His 1990 performances with Chicago, Neeme Jarvi conducting, of the Hary Janos Suite were recorded and released on the London-based Chandos label, and in November of 1993 he recorded the Kodaly work again with the Chicago Symphony, Sir George Solti conducting, for special London/Decca release. He als also recorded the Kodaly with Leonard Slatkin and the St. Louis Symphony for a forthcoming release.

He recorded Renard and Ragtime (two works which feature the cimbalom) by Igor Stravinsky with conductor Hugh Wolff and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, released on the Teldec label in April of 1996.

 

About cimbalom

Select recordings


Rhapsody No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra, Bartok. With Gil Shaham, violin, and Pierre Boulez, conductor, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Deutsche Grammophon #459639 / released March 9, 1999.


Suite from Hary Janos (Kodaly), Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti, conductor (solo cimbalom). Recorded November, 1993. U.S. release (11/94 ) Mephisto Magic (London/Decca 443 444-2), European release (10/94): The Hunga rian Connection (Decca 443 444-2).



Shadow Dances: Stravinsky Miniatures. Ragtime. Igor Stravinsky. Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Deutsche Grammophon 453458.


Other recent performances:


New York Philharmonic

Baltimore Symphony

Boston Symphony

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

EOS (New York City)

Orpheus

Chicago Symphony (plus CD recording for DGG)


Montreal Symphony (video for NHK-TV, Japan)

Manhattan Chamber Orchestra (New York)

Little Orchestra Society (New York)

Sospeso (New York City)

Rutgers Summerfest

Aspen Music Festival Chamber Orchestra

Tanglewood Music Center Contemporary Music Festival

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (recording for DGG)

New World Symphony

Minnesota Orchestra

Kansas City Symphony

Syracuse Symphony

Riverside Symphony (New York)

Rhode Island Philharmonic

Milwaukee Symphony

Brooklyn Philharmonic

OFUNAM (Mexico City)

 

Laurence Kaptain with violinist Monica Germino and mezzo-soprano, Cristina Zavalloni, collaborating on Louis Andriessen’s work La Passione, on break from rehearsal with the Eastman Philharmonia under Brad Lubman (February, 2006).

Recent/Upcoming performances



  1. 1.Kansas City Symphony

  2. 2.Louisiana Philharmonic

  3. 3.New World Symphony

  4. 4.Florida Orchestra

  5. 5.Johnstown Symphony

  6. 6.Alabama Symphony

  7. 7.Suzanne Farrell Ballet at Kennedy Center (on stage part for Stravisnky’s Ragtime

  8. 8.Philadelphia Orchestra at Saratoga (note: click on August 6)

  9. 9.Saratoga Chamber Music (August 10th)

  10. 10.Syracuse Symphony

  11. 11.Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

  12. 12.Nashville Chamber Orch.

  13. 13.Pittsburgh Symphony REVIEW

  14. 14.New York Philharmonic w/Yo-Yo Ma (05.06)

  15. 15.St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (05.06)

  16. 16.Baltimore Symphony with Elvis Costello (04.06)

  17. 17.Eastman Philharmonia

  18. 18.Minnesota Orchestra

  19. 19.Oklahoma City Philharmonic

  20. 20.Pittsburgh Symphony (10.06)

Short video clip of Laurence Kaptain performing Hary Janos Suite with OFUNAM (Mexico City) March 2005

Laurence Kaptain

Symphonic Cimbalom Artist

Contact: LKaptain@gmail.com

Voice: 706.662.8690

Interview with Laurence Kaptain on Chicago Symphony BP Broadcast (discussing performance and recording with the late Georg Solti)