03/13 Horatiu Radulescu
23 March 2013, 6 p.m.
Homage to Horatiu Radulescu
ON - Neue Musik Köln e.V. (New Music Cologne, registered society)
In 1969, the composer Horatiu Radulescu (1942-2008) fled the Ceausescu Regime in Romania and went to France - exactly the same year he laid the cornerstone for his characteristic musical language. "Spectralism" fathoms the finest ramifications of the overtone series, bringing them to fruition, although Radulescu never understood his analytic tonal approach as a goal unto itself. He was firmly grounded, so to speak, owing to the influence of his Romanian roots and his intimate knowledge of the folk music there; Radulescu always connected structural deliberations with philosophical and spiritual reflections. Distinctively expressive power is always paired with the subtlest of vibrations in his works, which reflect spiritual and emotional spheres on a higher level. For the realization of his creative visions, Radulescu expanded the instrumental possibilities in a fascinating manner, and precisely because his complex music is difficult to play, he sought and found superb performers such as violist Vincent Royer and the members of the European Lucero Ensemble. Vincent Royer is also the initiator and artistic director of the Radulescu Homage, which pays tribute to this exceptional artistic personality. But the homage is not only meant to be a kind of retrospection; rather it has also been conceived to open up new perspectives for an in-depth study of the life and work of Horatiu Radulescu.
In 1983, the piece "The Other" (op. 49) marks a turning point in Radulescu's compositions for strings. The new techniques he developed in order to realize his visions of sound are now based on the exploration of microcosmic realms of sound. The "V. String Quartet" from 1995 is based on Far Eastern philosophy, integrating quotes from Lao-tse. In this respect and with regard to color intensity, we witness here a fascinating further development of his spectral sound experiments for strings.
The Other (1983)
Viola solo, 18 min.
Before the Universe was born (1990 / 95)
V. String Quartet, 29 min.
Vincent Royer - Viola
Asasello Quartet:
Rostislav Kozhevnikov - 1st Violin
Barbara Kuster - 2nd Violin
Justyna Sliwa - Viola
Wolfgang Zamastil - Cello
Admission: 10 / 5 Euros
The concert has been organized by ON - Neue Musik in Cologne in conjunction with Kolumba and is being recorded by WDR 3. Broadcast date is Thursday, 11 April 2013 at 8:05 p.m. on WDR 3.
Homage to Horatiu Radulescu
ON - Neue Musik Köln e.V. (New Music Cologne, registered society)
In 1969, the composer Horatiu Radulescu (1942-2008) fled the Ceausescu Regime in Romania and went to France - exactly the same year he laid the cornerstone for his characteristic musical language. "Spectralism" fathoms the finest ramifications of the overtone series, bringing them to fruition, although Radulescu never understood his analytic tonal approach as a goal unto itself. He was firmly grounded, so to speak, owing to the influence of his Romanian roots and his intimate knowledge of the folk music there; Radulescu always connected structural deliberations with philosophical and spiritual reflections. Distinctively expressive power is always paired with the subtlest of vibrations in his works, which reflect spiritual and emotional spheres on a higher level. For the realization of his creative visions, Radulescu expanded the instrumental possibilities in a fascinating manner, and precisely because his complex music is difficult to play, he sought and found superb performers such as violist Vincent Royer and the members of the European Lucero Ensemble. Vincent Royer is also the initiator and artistic director of the Radulescu Homage, which pays tribute to this exceptional artistic personality. But the homage is not only meant to be a kind of retrospection; rather it has also been conceived to open up new perspectives for an in-depth study of the life and work of Horatiu Radulescu.
In 1983, the piece "The Other" (op. 49) marks a turning point in Radulescu's compositions for strings. The new techniques he developed in order to realize his visions of sound are now based on the exploration of microcosmic realms of sound. The "V. String Quartet" from 1995 is based on Far Eastern philosophy, integrating quotes from Lao-tse. In this respect and with regard to color intensity, we witness here a fascinating further development of his spectral sound experiments for strings.
The Other (1983)
Viola solo, 18 min.
Before the Universe was born (1990 / 95)
V. String Quartet, 29 min.
Vincent Royer - Viola
Asasello Quartet:
Rostislav Kozhevnikov - 1st Violin
Barbara Kuster - 2nd Violin
Justyna Sliwa - Viola
Wolfgang Zamastil - Cello
Admission: 10 / 5 Euros
The concert has been organized by ON - Neue Musik in Cologne in conjunction with Kolumba and is being recorded by WDR 3. Broadcast date is Thursday, 11 April 2013 at 8:05 p.m. on WDR 3.