Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Though Bach, Mozart, Dvorak, Schoenberg and Britten all played it, the viola remains widely regarded as the Cinderella of the strings, its versatility unacknowledged, its beauty concealed. But a surge of fine modern violists, with Garth Knox in the vanguard, have been championing it, and here was the man himself with a recital for Edinburgh Contemporary Arts Trust that exhilaratingly liberated every timbre, note or noise his instrument could produce. Continue reading “Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh”

Edinburgh Contemporary Arts Trust Garth Knox’s recital of modern viola music

If I thought six pieces of new music in one concert was impressive, Garth Knox clearly felt himself up to the challenge by playing seven, albeit none of them premieres, in this ecat (Edinburgh Contemporary Arts Trust) concert. He faced, perhaps, a bigger challenge as one might not necessarily imagine the viola could sustain a whole concert, certainly I had my doubts. Such concerns were unfounded and Knox quickly erased them.
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Utopian Dances

Music composed and improvised on the theme of Utopia, for a conference on this subject in Voralberg in 2007. Performed by Magali Imbert (flutes, percussion) and Garth Knox viola, viola d’amore and medieval fiddle).

Available as a free download at Last Fm.

Ballade, Bergen

Kammerkonsertar med Garth Knox og Plus Minus

Som dere alle observerer har dette stykket nå nådd et punkt hvor følelsene så og si er sluppet helt fri. Musikerene følger ikke lenger et strengt partitur eller komponistens plan, men uttrykker seg selv. De er bedt om å utføre diverse katharsiske handlinger og er mer opptatt av egen sjelelig rensing enn av konvensjonell musikalsk struktur”, var eitt av mange innspel frå Trond Reinholdtsen i hans nye verk. ”Music as Emotion” er eit stykke med trøkk, meiner Ida Habbestad i denne meldinga.

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Garth Knox à l’auditorium John Cage, Perpignan

L’homme des hautes altitudes

Lumineuse idée que d’avoir invité le presque légendaire Garth Knox – ancien alto de l’Intercontemporain de 1983 à 1990, puis du non moins zénithal quatuor Arditti jusqu’en 1997 – pour la deuxième soirée du quatorzième cycle Syntax à l’auditorium John Cage de Perpignan. L’homme impressionne par un mélange de candeur enfantine et d’aisance, un regard espiègle de jeune homme de 50 ans et un pedigree musical impressionnant. Tout ce qui compte de solistes et d’ensembles importants dans le champ des musiques d’aujourd’hui, il les a croisés en effet.
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Brillante actuación de Garth Knox

En contados instantes, el espacio blanco, liso, triangular y recortado por tres viejas columnas de hierro está totalmente repleto de jóvenes y por un puñado de edad intermedia y algunos mayores. El clima del lugar es distendido y todo es espontáneo. Las sillas en forma de platea están agotadas, se acercan otras, se suman banquetas, almohadones y al mismo tiempo se palpa un clima de amistad, confianza y de unidad espiritual. Continue reading “Brillante actuación de Garth Knox”