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Tag: five things friday

  • Five Things Friday – Reinbert de Leeuw

    Conductor, composer, pianist, author . . . Dutch musician Reinbert de Leeuw wears many hats. Throughout his career, de Leeuw has been an ardent champion of new music, co-founding the Schoenberg Ensemble in 1974 (he’s been conductor and music director since its inception). If you aren’t familiar with Reinbert de Leeuw, here’s five things to help you get acquainted:

    • Mr. de Leeuw is an accomplished pianist – he will be performing his own Im wunderschönen Monat Mai on Friday Night with Barbara Sukowa. His interpretations of Erik Satie, in particular, have brought him widespread acclaim. Here’s a video of him playing Satie’s Le Fils des Étoiles No. 2. 
    • In addition to his work with the Schoenberg Ensemble, Mr. de Leeuw has also served as music director of the Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music (1994-1998) and artistic advisor for contemporary music at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (2000-2004). He has also been involved in several opera productions, including works by Stravinsky, Andriessen, Ligeti, Vivier, and Rob Zuiddam.
    • In 2011, Mr. de Leeuw accomplished a cherished dream – to lead a complete performance of Schoenberg’s massive Gurre-Lieder. For his performance, de Leeuw brought together 356 musicians, including students of the Royal Conservatoir and Codarts Rotterdam. Here’s a brief video taken from one of the rehearsals.
    • If that isn’t enough, Mr. de Leeuw is the author of two books (one on Charles Ives and a collection of essays), and helped to create an internationally acclaimed eight-part documentary on twentieth-century composers.
    • And one more…In 2010, Mr. de Leeuw was a part of the “Cage Against The Machine” campaign, which was a worldwide push to get John Cage’s 4’33” as the Christmas No. 1. Here is his performance for Dutch television (begins at 6:30). If anyone speaks Dutch, we’d love to know what he says!

    We’re excited that Reinbert de Leeuw will be joining us in June. From what we’ve seen so far, he’s an incredibly talented musician and thinker – we can’t wait to meet him! He’ll be in Ojai June 7-10 – click here for tickets and further information.

  • Five Things Friday – The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra

    The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra (or, as we’ve shortened it here in the office, the NCO) has worked with 2012 Music Director Leif Ove Andsnes for several years, both on recording projects and at the Risør Festival in Norway. But the group is well-known and established in their own right, so for this week’s Five Things Friday, we’ve decided to see what we could learn about the NCO:

    • The group was started in 1977, bursting onto the international music scene with its acclaimed recording of Grieg’s complete works for string orchestra in 1979. The NCO has benefited from having two long-term leaders: Terje Tønnesen (1977-1981, 2010-present) and Iona Brown (1981-2001). Leif Ove Andsnes was the orchestra’s first guest leader, holding the position from 2002-2010.
    • Terje Tønnesen is active across several different genres, enjoying working in jazz, rock, and theatrical performance in addition to his work with the NCO. Here’s an incredible video of Tønnesen performing in Dance Macabre (1995), choreographed by Kjersti Alveberg.
    • The NCO is known for their dedication to developing new performance concepts and modes of presentation. Take, for example, their performance of Grieg’s In ‘Holberg’s Time’, in 2010 (wait for about 50 seconds in).
    • The NCO appeared as part of the BBC Proms in 2010, receiving almost universal praise for their (and Andnes’) performances of Grieg and Mozart’s piano concertos. But they gave another performance as well, at the much less traditional 100 Club, usually home to Jazz and rock groups. You can see a video of their sold-out performance here.
    • And speaking of unusual venues, the NCO also had a series of performances throughout the city, including in a train station. Definitely one of the times we wish we spoke Norwegian.

    There are less than two months to go until the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Leif Ove Andsnes, and the rest of the 2012 artists arrive in Ojai. If you have not yet bought tickets, you can do so online at https://ojaifestival.secure.force.com/ticket.

  • Five Things Friday – Martin Fröst

    “Until you’ve heard Martin Fröst, you haven’t really heard the clarinet.” – The Times

    Swedish clarinetist Martin Fröst is known throughout the world for his virtuosic abilities and his dedication to stretching the boundaries of the traditional classical music performance. His championing of pieces such as Anders Hillborg’s Peacock Tales has led to developing performances that not only include clarinet, but dance and theatrical production as well. If you’re curious about this multi-talented musician, here’s five things you may (or may not) know about Martin Fröst:

    • Dances to a Black Pipe, Fröst’s latest CD includes dance music by Copland, Brahms, Piazzolla, and Goran Fröst, Martin’s brother. The CD also features Ojai alums Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Watch Fröst and the ACO recording Dances to a Black Pipe here.
    • Fröst is a longtime collaborator with 2012 Music Director Leif Ove Andsnes, and has been a frequent performer at the Risør Music Festival in Norway.
    • Several of his special projects (Peacock Tales, Dance to Black Pipe, No Strings Attached) can only be described as monodramas, with Fröst himself playing the main role and musical lead, creating new ways to convey stories and music to audiences. Here’s a preview of Peacock Tales, which Fröst will be performing at the Sunday Morning Concert.
    • Even royalty love Martin Fröst. He was the only classical instrumentalist featured during the gala concert celebrating the marriage of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel Westling.

    Fröst will be performing in Ojai during the Saturday Morning and Evening concerts, as well as the Sunday morning concert. Highlights will include his famous performance of Peacock Tales and Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, among other works, among others. Buy tickets to the 2012 Festival here.

    If you can’t wait until June, he will be performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on March 24-25.

    And finally, a little Friday treat – Fröst and Malena Ernman performing Flight of the Bumblebee.

     

  • Five Things Friday – Marc-André Hamelin

    If you live in Los Angeles, there is really only one classical music station that you tune to—the inimitable 91.5 KUSC. And when you grow up listening to KUSC, artist names quickly become familiar, even without your realizing it. For me, one of those names was the pianist Marc-André Hamelin. So you can imagine my anticipation when I heard he was coming to Ojai in June. However I realized that despite having heard his recordings many times, I actually knew very little about Hamelin. So, in preparation for his Ojai debut, we’ve found five things you may (or may not) know about Hamelin:

    – Montreal-born Hamelin is an incredibly virtuosic pianist, known for his breadth of expression and astonishing technical ability. If you need proof, here’s a video of him performing Triple Etude d’Apres Chopin, where he plays three Chopin A minor etudes…simultaneously.

    – In an interview with Ethan Iverson, Hamelin noted that the first recording he bought for himself was of Ives’ Concord Sonata when he was 13. It has since become something of a signature piece for him…and he’ll be playing it on Thursday night in Ojai.

    – He is also a talented composer—his recording of his own compositions, Hamelin: Ètudes brought him his ninth Grammy Nomination and first prize from the German Record Critic’s Association

    – He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Québec (National Order of Quebec).

    – Hamelin has achieved the near-impossible: he has managed to make the Nokia ringtone almost bearable, with his very own Valse Irritation d’après Nokia.

    Needless to say, we’re looking forward to meeting Hamelin and hearing him play in person. He will be performing throughout the Festival weekend, both solo and with his friend and long-time collaborator Music Director Leif Ove Andsnes, playing works by John Luther Adams, Ives, Berg, Bolcom, and Stravinsky. Click here to see his concerts and buy tickets to the 2012 Festival.

    If you want to learn more about Hamelin, read Ethan Iverson’s excellent interview or visit his web site.