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| | | | Michael Faust began his flute studies in his native Cologne, Germany, where he was a student of Cäcilie Lamerichs continuing later in Hamburg with Berlin Philharmonic principal flutist Karlheinz Zöller and then in Basel Switzerland with Aurèle Nicolet. Among his national and international prizes and awards, Mr. Faust was the first German to be awarded the prestigious 'Pro Musicis-Award 1986' in New York. Since that time he has presented solo concerts throughout Europe, North and South America, Africa and Japan. Conductor Lorin Maazel has praised him for his "radiant tone and distinct musicality" and conductor Gunther Schuller writes. 'Seldom does one meet someone with such a pure tone, so much expression and technical virtuosity. It is a pleasure to hear him play.'
His career as an orchestral musician began when he was only 20 years old as the Solo Flute with the Orchestra di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Later he held that same position with the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra under Sergiu Celibidache. Since 1988 he has been the Solo Flute with the WDR Sinfonieorchester in Cologne.
Michael Faust's commitment to pedagogy has been well documented through his many masterclasses in Europe, South America, Japan and the United States. He is Professor at the Muiskhochschule in Düsseldorf. In addition, for many years he was a professor with the European Mozart Foundation in Prague and Warsaw.
Many composers including York Höller, Manfred Trojahn, Heinz-Martin Lonquich, Bojidar Dimov and Gunther Schuller have written works for both Michael Faust and for the ensemble he founded, 'Ensemble Contrasts Köln'. This, as well as his groups participation in festivals such as the Darmstädter Tage fur Neue Musik show his deep commitment to contemporary music. He suggested that Maurricio Kagels write a new work whose title contained 'Das Konzert'. The world premiere was held during the Ruhr-Triennale on October 2, 2003, in the German Oper am Rhein in Duisburg.
Highpoints of his career include the premiere of Ibert's flute concerto with the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra under Vladimir Fedossejev, premiere of Gunther Schuller's flute concerto with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and a recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York. Michael Faust has presented solo concerts in such varied places as the Cologne Philharmonie (Gunther Schuller's flute concerto with the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Hans Vonk conducting), the Kioi-hall in Tokyo, the 'Teatro Amazonas' in Manaus and in Spokane, Washington, where he is a guest each year at the 'Northwest Bach Festival.'
Michael was involved in many chamber music concerts with the Ensemble Contrasts Koln, as well as performances with Heinrich Schiffs Winterthurer Musikkollegiumsorchester (Reinecke), the Neubrandenburger Philharmoniken (Rautavaara), and the WDR Sinfonieorchester Cologne (Bernstein), Carl St. Clair, conducting.
In 2003, the renowned composer Mauricio Kagel wrote his only instrumental concerto for Michael Faust, who has played "Das Konzert" with orchestras in Duisburg, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Saarbrücken and others. In January of 2009 he played the premiere of the new flute concerto by the famous Latvian composer Peteris Vasks with the WDR Symphony orchestra under the button of Maestro Semyon Bychkov. 2010 he will premiere this concerto in Latvia (Riga) as well as in the US (Anaheim).
Amidst his many recordings for radio and television in Germany, France, the United States and Japan, and after his first recording with pianist Alexander Lonquich, in 1990 Michael Faust recorded 'El Cimarron' by Hans-Werner Henze. Since then he has recorded many CD's from all periods and genres, including a three CD set on GM Recordings of works from Bach to Mozart with harpsichordist and longtime duo partner Ilton Wjuniski and, also on GM, a recording of the Cesar Franck Sonata and the Sergej Prokofjev Sonata.
With the Ensemble Contrasts Köln Michael Faust commits himself mostly to new music, for instance a CPO release with music by Elliott Carter. With the WDR-Sinfonieorchester Cologne under Serge Baudo and Alun Francis he recorded the concertos for flute and orchestra by J. Ibert, C. Nielsen and L. Bernstein. (Capriccio) This recording was met with much critical acclaim. 'Gramophone' magazine wrote Michael Faust is a 'splendid flutist and artist' and 'Fono Forum' called him 'an outstanding soloist', and the French publication 'La Traversiere' a 'interprete a decouvrir.'
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