Royal Festival Hall, London

Steve Reich  Music for 18 Musicians
with The Colin Currie Group coached by Micaela Haslam

November 2013

 

“As for this performance – it’s hard to imagine any better. The sound setup by Sound Intermedia was exemplary, and the ensemble played with focus and ease. This was apparently Currie’s first time performing the piece, but you wouldn’t have guessed, and his ensemble were brilliantly drilled and bursting with enthusiasm. Synergy Vocals has the best CV for this repertoire, and their contribution was unsurprisingly excellent as well. During the performance, I was caught between gazing in amazement at the focus of the players and the complexity of their task, and shutting my eyes and basking in the sound they made”

Bachtrack

                                                                                          

The concert culminated “in a magnificent account of Music for 18 Musicians

The Independent

 

“The performance of Music for 18 Musicians (1974-76) after the interval that saw the Colin Currie Group team up with Synergy Vocals was as fine a rendition of this work as you could hope for. Conductorless and fluid, it is a work where all must play their part, covering backs, swapping places, listening out for correct entries and exits. The ensemble were as attentive as I have ever seen a group of musicians.  Synergy Vocals were especially outstanding in delivering those tricky rhythmic calls, but everyone played their part.”

theartsdesk.com

 

“The performance was technically impeccable and musically overwhelming; richly deserving of the lengthy standing ovation.”

The Guardian

 

Posted in Reviews.