The Changing Faces of Nocturnal Light
A ‘sonata in the manner of a fantasy’, Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight’ sonata (1801) contains the most memorable reverie in western music. Its familiar soubriquet was coined in 1832 by the German poet Ludwig Rellstab, who said it shimmered like reflected moonlight on Lake Lucerne.
The ‘Moonlight’ sonata introduces a concert dedicated to the power of the moon on composers including Schubert, Sting and Henry Mancini, not neglecting Nicholas Britell’s Oscar-nominated score for the film Moonlight (2015). At the heart of the performance is Schoenberg’s impassioned meditation on nocturnal light, Verklärte Nacht.
They don’t seem to believe in their happiness,
And their song mingles with the moon’s clear light,
The calm moonlight, sad and beautiful — Paul Verlaine
Anne Sofie von Otter is one of today’s most recorded artists with an unrivalled discography built across a career spanning more than three decades at the very top of her profession in opera, concert and recital. A lengthy and exclusive relationship with Deutsche Grammophon produced a wealth of acclaimed recordings with her double CD Douce France, on Naïve Classique, taking the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album.
An ever-evolving repertoire has played a key role in sustaining Anne Sofie von Otter’s international profile with recent new roles including Leocadia Begbick (Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny) at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Countess Geschwitz in Christoph Marthaler’s production of Lulu at Staatsoper Hamburg, Madame de Croissy (Dialogues des Carmélites) at Royal Swedish Opera, Geneviève (Pelléas et Mélisande) for Opéra national de Paris, and The Old Lady (Candide) at Komische Oper Berlin in Barrie Kosky’s new production. She created the role of Leonore in the world premiere of Thomas Adès’ The Exterminating Angel, presented at Salzburger Festspiele and Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and received unanimous acclaim for her portrayal as Charlotte Andergast in Sebastian Fagerlund’s Höstsonaten at Finnish National Opera.
Marzi Nyman was born in 1979 in a small town of Lohja in rural Finland. His parents were musical and luckily made him take piano lessons since the age of 6. Marzi studied classical piano for 10 years, but then, finally, in his teens he realized that guitar is the king of all instruments, and started learning it with fierce passion. Marzi Nyman started his studies in Sibelius-Academy (jazz department) in the year 1998, and is still studying, mainly composition.
Marzi is very interested in various types of performing and music-making. He has composed for orchestras, chamber groups, theater, movies and made songs that he performs himself. He has played with an colorful array of people and collectives in Finland and a bit abroad also. Some of the people he has performed with include Lenny Pickett, Tim Ries (The Rolling Stones), Anu Komsi, Osmo Vänskä, Hannu Lintu, Igudesman & Joo (The League of Xtrordinary Musicians) and Pekka Kuusisto. He has been selected as Pori Jazz Artist (2003), and won the prestigious Teosto Award in 2006.
Alasdair is renowned as a sincere musician and intrepid programmer. He champions a wide repertoire with particular areas of interest: Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Schubert and Schumann; the solo and chamber music of Gabriel Fauré, Bartók and Janáçek; concertos of Bach, Bartók, Britten, Fauré, Hindemith, Messiaen and Mozart; and contemporary works, including the piano quintet of Thomas Adès, George Benjamin’s Shadowlines and Harrison Birtwistle’s Harrison’s Clocks.
Cédric Tiberghien is a French pianist who has established a truly international career. He has been particularly applauded for his versatility, as demonstrated by his wide-ranging repertoire, interesting programming, an openness to explore innovative concert formats and his dynamic chamber music partnerships.
Hugo has a rare ability to convey a profound understanding of the music and shed light on its spiritual intent.
— Arvo Pärt
It is very clear that Ticciati is one of tomorrow’s truly great musicians.
— Der Tagesspiegel, Berlin
As violinist, leader and conductor, Hugo Ticciati imbibes all possible forms of creativity, whether it be performing world premieres in the most prestigious venues around the world, improvising with monks in India, or devising innovative programmes for O/Modernt Orchestra and Festival which he founded in 2011. Alongside his passion to discover and learn from the music of previous epochs and non-western traditions, Hugo embraces the world of contemporary music. To date, over forty works have been written for and dedicated to him by a host of eminent composers, including Erkki-Sven Tüür, Pēteris Vasks, Victoria Borisova-Ollas, Albert Schnelzer and Dobrinka Tabakova.
As the Artistic Director of his own O/Modernt Orchestra, and Artistic Partner with Manchester Camerata, Hugo collaborates regularly with Kremerata Baltica, Basel Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra da Camera di Perugia. Most recently, he has been invited to work with Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra and Vienna Chamber Orchestra.
Gaining a growing reputation for his innovative and adventurous programming, Hugo is frequently asked to devise and present concerts and festivals with a unique twist. This has led to ongoing collaborations with Wigmore Hall and Kings Place in London. Pursuing his passion for chamber music, Hugo has developed special artistic partnerships with members of the O/Modernt Soloists as well as other internationally renowned artists, notably Evelyn Glennie, Anne Sofie von Otter, Nils Landgren, Steven Isserlis, Angela Hewitt and Olli Mustonen.
Hugo frequently gives master-classes and lectures on music-related subjects both at Scandinavia’s leading specialist music school Lilla Akademien, where he holds the post of Deputy Artistic Director, and other educational institutions around the world.
One of the foremost violinists of her generation.
— The Strad
Priya Mitchell grew up in Oxford and studied with David Takeno at the Yehudi Menuhin School and with Zachar Bron in Germany. She was then chosen as the British representative of the European Concert Halls Organisation ‘Rising Stars‘ Series, which success led to highly acclaimed tours and performances in Europe and abroad.
She has worked with many eminent conductors including Sir Andrew Davis, Yuri Temirkanov, Richard Hickcox, Emmanuel Krivine, Heinrich Schiff and Yan Pascal Tortelier. As a recitalist and chamber musician she has performed extensively at international music festivals including Schleswig-Holstein, Schubertiade Schwarzenberg, Kuhmo, Lockenhaus, Risør, Heimbach, Ravinia, Lugano, Cheltenham, Bath, Stavanger and Trondheim.
Danusha Waskiewicz has earned recognition as an excellent chamber musician. She regularly performs with prominent artists such as Isabelle Faust, with whom she recorded works from Schubert and Schönberg for the Harmonia Mundi record label. Her long and successful collaboration with pianist Andrea Rebaudengo produced their lucky “Songs for Viola and Piano” (via Decca), that includes great songs from exceptional composers. With her viola, Danusha is able to sing and tell stories.
Since 2018, Danusha Waskiewicz is part of famous Italian quartet Quartetto Prometeo, well-known for their versatility. Their top-notch performances space from classic to contemporary music and have garnered praise for their eclecticity.
South African born violist and overtone singer, Gareth Lubbe, appears as soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, America, Africa and Asia. For several years, he was principal violist of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig before taking up the post of Professor at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen where he has a studio of viola students from around the world.
He is a regular guest artist and educator at festivals such as Stellenbosch in South Africa, Kuhmo in Finland, and Purbecks in England amongst many others. As an acclaimed overtone singer, Gareth gives performances and lectures around the world. Prominent composers have written works for his voice, and his vocal skills have been recorded for Radio, Films as well as computer games.
Julian Arp studied at the Academy of Music ‘Hanns Eisler’ in Berlin with Boris Pergamenschikow. He continued his studies with David Geringas and Eberhard Feltz. As a soloist and chamber musician Julian Arp appears regularly at festivals, including the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Rheingau Music Festival, Beethovenfest Bonn, Beauvais, Montreux, SoNoRo Bucharest, Stellenbosch, Stift Festival, the Oxford Chamber Music Festival, and IMS Prussia Cove.
The Duo Arp/Frantz has released three CDs. In the words of Fono Forum: ‘They make music into pure celebration. It all sounds and sings.’ Contemporary composers, including Odeh-Tamimi, Koch, Nemtsov and Dinescu have written pieces for Julian Arp. He is a co-founder of the festival Zeitkunst which has been a guest at the Centre Pompidou, Radialsystem Berlin, Israel, England and Rio de Janeiro. Julian regularly gives master classes in Germany and abroad, and teaches at the University for Arts in Graz, Austria.
The Italian cellist Claude Frochaux began playing the cello at Suzuki Talent Center, then at the Conservatory of Turin. Studies followed in Frankfurt, Essen and Madrid. As a sought-after and passionate chamber musician, he is a guest at festivals such as Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Mozartfest Würzburg, Beethovenfest Bonn, Oxford, Enescu Bucharest and venues like Wigmore Hall and Kings Place London, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Konzerthaus Berlin and Laeiszhalle Hamburg, as well as broadcast repeatedly on the radio -BR, WDR, SWR, Deutschlandfunk and Radio Clasica.
In 2008 he founded Monte Piano Trio with which he won numerous international prizes (Maria Canals Barcelona, Brahms Austria, Schumann Frankfurt, Folkwang Prize et al.) and regularly gives concerts. He collaborates with groups such as Ensemble Midwest Denmark, Amici Ensemble Frankfurt and Ensemble Ruhr. Claude is founder and artistic director of Kammermusikfest Sylt, which takes place every year on the german island of Sylt.
Sam Wilson is a percussionist and composer based in London. Active in many genres of music and performance, his work has taken him to concert halls, comedy clubs, stadiums and festivals around the world. He is an avid creator, taking a collaborative and compositional role in most of the work he does, and has undertaken numerous engagements of devising for television, radio and film.
The chamber orchestra O/Modernt leads the way.
— Berliner Morgenpost
Ticciati so clearly led his fellow strings to draw even more from them with an infinite variety of dynamics.
— The Arts Desk
Directed by violinist Hugo Ticciati, the O/Modernt Chamber Orchestra is an integral part of O/Modernt. Comprised of top young players from all over Europe, the orchestra performs eclectic and adventurous programmes, with anything from arrangements of medieval motets to Bach, Webern and Metallica. The orchestra regularly collaborates with world-renowned soloists such as Evelyn Glennie, Steven Isserlis, Anne Sofie von Otter and Nils Landgren, as well as jazz artists, rappers, choreographers, rock-balancers and more.
Although only a few years old, the orchestra has gained an international reputation, with performances at the Wigmore Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin, Wiener Musikverein and Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, Amsterdam. The O/Modernt players enjoy a wide range of outreach and educational projects in Sweden, the UK and further afield in India.
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor Op. 27, No. 2
Arvo Pärt Es sang vor langen Jahren
Franz Schubert Der Wanderer an den Mond
Nicholas Britell Little’s Theme from ‘Moonlight’ (Original Soundtrack)
Claude Debussy ‘Claire de lune’ from Suite bergamesque
Gabriel Fauré ‘La lune blanche’ from La bonne chanson Op 61
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Arnold Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht Op. 4 (‘Transfigured Night’)
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Arvo Pärt Fratres
Henry Mancini Moon River
Nicholas Britell Chef’s Special from ‘Moonlight’
Elvis Presley Blue Moon - Take 9/M
Sting Sister Moon
Reijo Taipale Tähdet Meren Yllä (‘Finnish Tango’)
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David Bowie Moonlight on Mars
Alternatively with O/Modernt Soloists or O/Modernt Chamber Orchestra
