Asko|Schönberg: Two world premieres at Cello Biennale

Asko|Schönberg presents two new compositions at the Cello Biennale. Commissioned by Asko|Schönberg, innovative composer Silvia Borzelli creates with earthbound New work breaking the traditional coordination between left and right hand. Composer Guus Janssen has been commissioned by the Cello Biennale to write a new composition for ensemble and four cellists. In addition to these two new works, the ensemble will play the classic Biennial Galop 2016 by Martijn Padding and the Dutch premiere of Chamber Symphony Op. 2 by Thomas Adès. Asko|Schönberg performs Chamber Symphony Op. 2 also performed at a special low-incentive concert on 6 November.

earthbound - Silvia Borzelli

world premiere, commissioned by Asko|Schönberg

At earthbound by composer Silvia Borzelli pays homage to gravity and our connection to the earth. The mythical figure Antaeus, who derived his strength from contact with the earth, and Dutch artist Bas Jan Ader, known for his investigations into falling in his Fall-series, serve as sources of inspiration for this work. Borzelli explores in earthbound the loss of balance as a necessary step to reconnect-or rather disconnect-from the earth. These concepts are expressed musically by the solo cello, which deliberately breaks the traditional coordination between left and right hands and experiments with a periodic disconnection between the bow and the left hand-the contact and wobble, the loss of balance. With earthbound Italian cellist Francesco Dillion makes his debut at the Cello Biennale.

Concertino for 4 celli and ensemble - Guus Janssen

world premiere, commissioned by Cello Biennale

At Concertino for 4 celli and ensemble Guus Janssen stacks four cello concertos on top of each other, in which the composer assumes unison. By deviating from this in various ways, forms of polyphony emerge. In the music thus created, the question remains which soloist is 'in front'. A psychological game of 'who demands attention' to 'who gets attention'.

The soloists performing this challenging composition were previously very successful on stage with Martijn Padding's Biennale Galop 2016. Martijn Padding's piece will also be heard at this concert.

Chamber Symphony Op. 2

Asko|schönberg provides counterpoint with the Chamber Symphony Op. 2 by Thomas Adès. The piece consists of four small movements and sits at the interface of jazz and classical music from the 20^e century. On 6 November, Asko|Schönberg will play at GRASpunt, the ensemble's studio, Chamber Symphony Op. 2for clients of GB Autism. This low-incentive concert will be briefly introduced beforehand and there will be room for questions afterwards.

Cello Biennale - Asko|Schönberg

8 November, Muziekgebouw

Performed by Asko|Schönberg
Gregory Charette: conductor | Larissa Groeneveld: cello | Sebastiaan van Halsema: cello | Jeroen den Herder: cello | Timora Rosler: cello | Francesco Dillon: cello