Monday 29 September 2008 Migrations 09 Launch Event Taraf de Haidouks, the world's greatest gypsy band, launches the 'Migrations' 09 world music festival on Monday 8 December with a blaze of wild, deliriously undignified outlaw folk.
Championed by Yehudi Menuhin, The Kronos Quartet and Johnny Depp (as "beyond anything I've ever heard"), Taraf de Haïdouks are a troupe of Romanian Roma musicians from the town of Clejani (south west of the capital, Bucharest). Formed in 1989 as a touring band by a young Belgian promoter who became fascinated by Romanian ethnomusicologist recordings, Taraf de Haidouks ('band of outlaws') have toured Northern Europe to massive acclaim, their three studio and one live album making them a world music sensation. 'The Taraf de Haïdouks are the greatest musicians I know - they play a music which expresses the most intense joy, and have this gift to make you feel alive. They are among the most extraordinary people I have ever met.' JOHNNY DEPP Award-winning journalist Garth Cartwright, author of Princes Amongst Men: Journeys With Gypsy Musicians (Serpents Tail) gives a pre-show talk on the secret history and culture of the Roma Gypsies and performs a post-show DJ set. 'Migrations' – great journeys in world music. 'Migrations' is St George's celebration of the musical and cultural riches created through the movements of people from one place to another. A continuing festival, planned to last throughout 2009, 'Migrations' will present world music – including music from the world of Bristol – in ways that reflect the connections between different styles and the contexts of globalization. Taraf de Haïdouks play live at St George's Bristol on Monday 8 December at 8pm. Garth Cartwright will give a pre-concert talk at 6.45pm (free to ticket holders) and perform a post-show Gypsy music DJ set from the CD soundtrack to the book Princes Amongst Men. |  Migrations 09 Launch Event Monday 8 December 2008  |
Monday 29 September 2008 Maxim Rysanov, 2008 Classic FM Gramophone Young Artist of the Year Charismatic violist Maxim Rysanov has won the prestigious 2008 Classic FM Gramophone Young Artist of the Year. The award was announced at the awards ceremony at The Dorchester, London on Thursday 25 September 2008 to an audience from the music industry and press. The ceremony was co-hosted by the Gramophone editor and Angela Hewitt. London-based Maxim - who was considered for the title role of Vivaldi in the planned Hollywood film - was on hand to accept his prize.
This coveted award comes at a key moment in the career of this violist, considered by many to be the world's best. A new disc of Brahms' works is being released on the Onyx label later this month with a promotional Brahms tour planned for November. Maxim Rysanov plays Brahms, Enescu and Britten, live at St George's Bristol, on Friday 14 November at 7.30pm. |  |
Tuesday 23 September 2008 Bird With Strings Award winning saxophonist Gilad Atzmon's 'Bird With Strings' kicks off St George's new International Jazz Season on Friday 26 September. A lush celebration of the unpredictable beauty of the 1949 recording 'Charlie Parker with Strings', Atzmon's lyrical alto sax, beautifully framed by the Sigamos Strings superb arrangements, truly does justice to Charlie 'Bird' Parker.
'When Charlie Parker recorded 'Bird With Strings', it established beyond doubt that the addition of a semi-classical arrangement need not reduce good jazz to mush, and though lesser players have indeed subsequently fallen into that trap, there was no risk that Gillad Atzmon would do the same. Bringing his superb Orient House Ensemble together with the Sigamos Strings and his own love of Parker's music has refreshed the original and presents a crisp and surprising experience that does true justice to it, especially when performed acoustically as it will be in St George's.' (Venue 835, 19 - 28 Sep 08) Celebrate the best of world jazz at St George's. Great magic in an intimate venue. Gilad Atzmon Orient House Ensemble and the Sigamos Strings perform 'Bird With Strings' live at St George's Bristol on Friday 26 September at 8pm. |  |
Tuesday 9 September 2008 Bringing the world of jazz to Bristol St George's brings a breathtaking line-up of the world's finest jazz artists to the heart of Bristol in its premier international jazz season.
With an exceptional and exciting programme, covering a vibrant, eclectic mix of musical styles spanning the globe, this series offers an unrivalled opportunity to celebrate music's most dynamic genre - jazz: with strings (Gilad Atzmon Orient House Ensemble, Israel); Afro-Cuban (Richard Bona Sextet, Cameroon); Brazilian (Vinicius Cantuaria, Brazil); European (Christian Wallumrod Ensemble, Norway); vocal (Lea Delaria, US); and classical (David Rees-Williams Trio, UK). Thrilling live performers all, playing incandescent sets. Celebrate the best of world jazz at St George's. Great magic in an intimate venue. Gilad Atzmon Orient House Ensemble, Friday 26 September. Richard Bona Sextet, Wednesday 12 November. Vinicius Cantuaria, Thursday 20 November. Christian Wallumrod Ensemble, Thursday 27 November. Lea DeLaria, Thursday 4 December. David Rees-Williams Trio, Tuesday 16 December. |  |
