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The violinist Igor Epstein is well-known in the world as “Der Teufelsgeiger”, which can be translated from German as “The Devil’s violinist”. This is because his performance is unique and “diabolically good”. He manages to embrace his listeners with soft tones, kidnaps them to unknown worlds and hypnotizes with eruptions of virtuosity. Igor's music comes directly from his soul and can be understood by everyone. The musician literally forgets himself during the performance and the listeners open up their hearts for joy and sorrow... Who once heard Igor playing violin has become a prisoner of his art. Igor Epstein started playing violin at the age of 3.5, when his father bought him a 1/8 instrument. Later he was accepted to the music school for gifted children in his native Rostov-Don. In 1990 he emigrated and now lives in Koeln, Germany. There he co-founded a one-of-a-kind institute, namely The World Music, Klezmer and Aesthetic Academy. There he works as a violin professor. Igor has a particular interest in the Klezmer music – this is the traditional Jewish music which used be passed down aurally from a musician to musician, from father to son. Much of the repertoire was lost during the Holocaust. Today's Klezmer incorporates a broad range of influences and may feature an equally broad range of instruments, including string instruments. However, Igor’s repertoire is much wider and includes classical and contemporary works. After all, he positions himself as an internationalist, cosmopolitan musician. Igor is a very successful and popular artist. His performances are highly spiritual, entertaining and informative as he often interacts with the audience.

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Epstein’s Klezmer Tov was founded by Igor (Itzik) Epstein in Cologne about 15 years ago. Igor’s musical journey did not begin in Germany, however. Born in Vilnius (Lithuania) Igor grew up in Rostov-on-Don (Russia) in a Jewish musical family. It was there that he received his music education, first as a classical violinist and later as a jazz bass performer, graduating from the Rostov State Conservatory. The development of Igor’s unique style is the result of a lifetime of musical influence. Playing music and growing up in a talented musical family meant that he was always surrounded by different forms of music. Therefore, upon moving to Europe, he became known as a performer who seems to appeal to his listeners on multiple levels simultaneously by fusing together elements of folk, jazz and classical music with sparkling Jewish humor. Epstein’s Klezmer Tov is a traditional acoustic band which communicates with the audience through their own native musical language called Klezmer. Although the number of musicians in the group can vary from duo to sextet (violin, clarinet, guitar, bass, accordion/piano and percussion) the genuine colorful emotions and the authenticity of its expressive melodies remain unchanged. www.klezmer-tov.de www.teufelsgeiger.com