mcd015.06 Huaxia / Antifonia Singcircle Yuan Zhi Yuan O Centro do Excêntrico do Centro do Mundo - Gregory Rose - Tsung Yeh , Xing Rufeng, Gao Yongping

e m i u g z A l e u g i M

This CD puts together two compositions where the texts and premiere at the Cloister of S. Jorge de Milréus Monastery, O Centro do Excêntrico do Centro do Mundo Yuan Zhi Yuan (from origins to origin) the voice are at the core of the music. within the Coimbra National Cultural Capital on the 8th of (2000-2002) (1997-1998) November 2002, from which this recording was made. 16 solo voices, 2 speakers and live-electronics Soprano, tenor, 6 traditional Chinese instruments, chamber choir O Centro do Excêntrico do Centro do Mundo (which title translated literally is The Centre of the Excentric of the Centre The second piece in this CD is Yuan Zhi Yuan for soprano, Texts from Tratado da Esfera and De Crepusculis by Pedro Nunes and live-electronics of the World) uses fragments of two theoretical texts by tenor, 6 traditional Chinese instruments, chamber choir and (16th century) Texts from Huainan Zhi (150 B.C.) sung in Chinese 16th century Portuguese mathematician Pedro Nunes, more electronics that was commissioned by the Orient Foundation. Live-recording of the premiere at Cloister of S. Jorge de Milréus Thanks: Claude Larre, Elisabeth Rochat de La Vallée, Yvette K. exactly “Tratado da Esfera” (“Treatise of the Sphere”) still a It’s premiere took place at the great hall of the Gulbenkian Monastery, Coimbra, the 8th of November 2002, within the Centeno, Chen Qigang, Institut Ricci Paris pre-copernicus cosmographic thinking and “De Crepusculis” Foundation, in Lisbon, in September 1998, and the current “Coimbra Capital Nacional da Cultura”. Live-electronics by Miguel Live-recording of the premiere at the great concert hall of the which is certainly the most important of Pedro Nunes’s works. recording was taken from this performance. Azguime Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, the 16th of September The choice of texts by Pedro Nunes used in the piece was This piece is sung in old Chinese and uses as its text, 1998, within the “ACARTE Encounters’98”. Staging by Paula decided for several reasons: it is about celebrating his 500 fragments of the first chapter of the classic Taoist book: hundred years anniversary and the great importance he Huainan Zhi. The title refers a verse from the Tao Te King Commissioned by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (Serviço de Música) Azguime; live-electronics by Miguel Azguime have had in the scientific European thinking of the time; it is book by Lao Tzu. about possible relationships between mathematics and music This piece mixes traditional and millenary means (such as Conductor: GREGORY ROSE Commissioned by Fundação Oriente (and in this sense several extrapolations were made during the Chinese traditional instruments) with new technological the composition process from Pedro Nunes’s mathematical means (electronics and new instrumental techniques applied SINGCIRCLE (London / UK) Conductor: TSUNG YEH equations freely converted to music material); it is about text to traditional instruments) but the use of the Taoist text sung Soprano: Emma Preston-Dunlop, Suzanne Wilson, Natalie Raybould, Soprano: XING RUFENG manipulation, or to say it better, text re-composition. The fact in Chinese was my main interest and the possible bridge to Mary Seers Tenor: GAO YONGPING that those texts are not of a literary type allowed me much the millenary Chinese thinking. This has led me to investigate Alto: Claire Underwood, Janet Shell, Margaret Cameron, Judith Bingham freedom to reorganize them in several ways that I wanted to deeply not only the language itself (language which I believe Tenor: Tom Phillips, John Bowley, Paul Tindall, Jonathan Stoughton HUAXIA ENSEMBLE (Beijing / China) use for the musical composition. Those different approaches is the fundamental vehicle for mankind thinking) but mostly Bass: Richard Weston, Christopher Goldsack, John Ward, Michael Dore Artistic director: Li Xi’an are reflected in each of the 10 parts that constitute the whole text and music relationships and how text can influence the piece, 10 different strategies for text manipulation (in both form and the musical material. As such the whole composition Xun, Xiao, Di: Zhang Weiliang the semantic and the phonetic content) and this as led me to derived almost directly from the inner structure of the used Speakers: Ágata Mandillo, Maria Sacramento Monteiro, Perseu Mandillo Erhu: Cao Dewei the main formal aspects of the work. text. Pipa: Chen Yihan As far as the harmonic and rhythmic material are concerned, Neither a semantic constrain or a phonetic one, but the inner Sanxian: Zhao Chengwei as is common to all my music, underlining is some spectral relationships of sound and meaning, available here for the Yangqin: Zhang Xia thinking, and in this case the reading aloud of the text served compositional operations I wanted to conduct simultaneously Zheng: Chang Jin as an acoustical model for some of the parts. with the text and the music, and the applied procedures for O Centro do Excêntrico do Centro do Mundo for 16 solo voices the composition of this work happened to become a major ANTIFONIA CHOIR (Cluj-Napoca / Romania) and 2 speakers uses additionally live electronics in some of influence for all my poetry writing since then, in fact bringing the parts and although for most of it the electronic processing my musical writing and my text writing to a common path. Choir conductor: Constantin Rîpa is underneath the voices, it do serves as an important Recent works like my multimedia opera “Salt Itinerary” had Singers: Corina Maier, Lavinia Chereches, Maria Abrudan, Marina Simio- component of the final timbral result. their starting point with Yuan Zhi Yuan. nescu, Nelida Nedelcut, Adrian Sandu, Dorin Simionescu, Ion Tibrea, This piece was commissioned by the Music Department of This is a music of permanent transformation, of continuous Sorin Vacar the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and had it’s first version processes of mutation, of time and space derivation, of premiered by soloists from the Gulbenkian Choir under the energy flowing. Music as a living being within the Universe. conducting of Jorge Matta at the Gulbenkian Encounters of Contemporary Music 2000. To this first version, some parts Miguel Azguime, August 2006, Berlin were revised and an extra part (part four) was added. This final version was finished in 2002 and Singcircle gave it’s

2 mcd015.06 3 computer music, giving lectures and courses on this de Compostela, Festival Escena Contemporânea – Spain; Festival NÓNIO [1998/99] field. Synthèse Bourges, Festival Novelum, Festival Mira, Festival Ébruitez- 5 flutes and live electronics Vous, Festival Itinéraire de Nuit, Festival MUSICA – France; Festival Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture In 2003 he started, together with Paula Azguime First performance: Lisbon, May 1999, Grande Auditório, Fundação (1960) Transart – Italy; Festival Audio Art – ; Inventionen Festival, Miguel Azguime the Portuguese Music Information Center. This same Heidelberg Festival – Germany; Encontros de Música Electroacústica de Calouste Gulbenkian Brasília – Brasil; Jauna Muzika – Lithuania; Encontros Gulbenkian de year Miguel Azguime won the 2003 EMS composition Composer, poet, and percussionist, he founded the Música Contemporânea; Festival Música em Novembro; Festival Música PULSE CODE MODULATION: uma história industrial [1996] prize. Viva - Portugal;...) flute, bass flute, percussion and live electronics Miso Ensemble in 1985, a flute and percussion duo Commissioned by Setúbal Municipal Council Miguel Azguime has been composer in residence in www.misoensemble.com recognized by the public and by the critics as one of First performance: Setúbal, February 1996, Michel Giacometti Mu- many electronic studios around the world, namely www.mic.pt seum the most important Portuguese contemporary music the Heinrich Stroebel Experimental Studio of the [email protected] groups. The Miso Ensemble has given numerous MULTIPLOS-TRANSITORIOS [1995] Sudwestfunk – Freiburg, the Electronic Music concerts in Portugal and abroad, with more than 400 marimba and live electronics Studio EMS in Stockholm, the Centre de Recherche First performance: Guimarães, June 1995, Festival da Primavera performances to date. et Formations Musicales de Wallonie – Liège, the Miguel Azguime has obtained various awards for ÍCONE VI [1992] MCD 009 Sonology Department of the Kunitachi University – percussion composition and performance. He has composed Tokyo, the TU Studio from the Technische Universität First performance: Lisbon, December 1992, ACARTE for diverse formations, instrumental and/or vocal Berlin, the International Centre for Composers in with or without electronics, electroacoustic music, ÍCONE V [1992] MCD 009 Works marimba Visby in 2007. sound poetry, and also music for exhibitions, sound In 2006 Miguel Azguime was DAAD composer First performance: Lisbon, December 1992, ACARTE installations, theatre, dance and cinema. He has Poetry: in residence in Berlin, and since then he lives and ÍCONE IV [1992] MCD 009 received commissions from several national and metal percussion, glockenspiel, sound-icon and live electronics works in Berlin and Lisbon. PARFAIRE LE BLEU First performance: Lisbon, December 1992, ACARTE international prestigious institutions *. collection of poems written in the last ten years (in French), forth- Azguime’s music has been performed by renowned * - (Heidelberg Festival - Germany, Festival Ars Musica – Belgium, coming. Experimental Studio Heinrich Stroebel Foundation - Sudwestfunk ÍCONE III [1992] MCD 009 soloists, ensembles and conductors **, being regularly wood drums – Germany, EMS Stockolm – Sweden, Japan Society for Contemporary ROYAUME [1980] First performance: Lisbon, December 1992, ACARTE presented at majors festivals of contemporary and Music, Ensemble Pythagore, éOle, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, collection of poems (in French), private edition Oriente Foundation, Casas de Fronteira e Alorna Foundation, Ministry electroacoustic music *** around the world. ÍCONE II [1992] MCD 009 of Culture, Centro Cultural de Belém, Europália 1991, Porto 2001, Casa CRÉPUSCULAIRE MAGIQUE [1978] roto-toms and voice The connections between Azguime the composer da Música, Teatro Viriato, Seixal Municipality - Ecomuseum Setúbal collection of poems (in French), private edition Municipality – Michel Giacometti Museum, Oeiras Municipality, Lisbon texts by Miguel Azguime and Azguime the poet have given birth of a unique First performance: Lisbon, December 1992, ACARTE text and music relationship that he has named Municipality, ...) Electroacoustic Theatre and Multimedia Opera. ** - (Alain Neveux, Jean-Marie Cottet, Alain Damiens, Robert ÍCONE I [1992] MCD 009 Glassburner, Paula Azguime, Yoshiko Shibuya, Tsung Yeh, Johannes Flute and Percussion: wood vat (dorna) and wood stairs Besides his activity as a composer, poet and Composed for the Miso Ensemble and premiered by the Miso En- Kalitzke, Stefan Asbury, Dominique My, Kunitaka Kokaji, Gregory Rose, First performance: Lisbon, December 1992, ACARTE semble percussionist, he remains actively dedicated to the Pedro Amaral, Pascal Galois, Roberto Bollea, Juliane Trémoulet, Smith Quartet, California Ear Unit, Ensemble Recherche, Ensemble Aventure, DETERMINANTE -SOLAR [1991] MCD 003 promotion and diffusion of contemporary music, ESCRITURAS [2002] Remix Ensemble, Ensemble Ébruitez-vous!, Miso Ensemble, Gulbenkian bass flute and percussion flute, percussion and live electronics as artistic director of the independent label Miso Choir, Antifonia Choir, Singcircle, Hua Xia Ensemble, L’Autre Trio, ComeT First performance: Lisbon, June 1991, Palácio Fronteira Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture Records, as artistic director of the Música Viva Ensemble Tokyo,...) First performance: Porto, December 2002, Teatro do Campo Alegre ÁGUA or MARÉ -NOME de PEDRA [1991] MCD 003 Festival, as founder of the Miso Studio. *** - (ISCM-World Music Days in Luxembourg, Japan, Slovenia, Croatia; piccolo, flute, alto flute, percussion, water, mill stones, magnetic tape DU NÉANT DE L ’ÉTANT [1999/2000] He has developed since 1995 the first Portuguese Festival Ars Musica, Festival L’Espace du Son – Belgium, Sonic Arts Annual (collage of a narrative about the miller of the Corroios tidal mill and vibraphone and live electronics Conference, Sonorities Festival Belfast, Huddersfield Contemporary Music fragments of Finisterra by Carlos de Oliveira) and live electronics Loudspeaker Orchestra and as a researcher he First performance: Weimar, October 2000, Neue Musik Festival Festival - UK; Spring in Havana Festival – Cuba; Florida Electroaoustic Commissioned by the Seixal Municipal Council for the Corroios Tide Mill has been working in the development of real time Music Festival – USA, Xornadas de Música Contemporânea de Santiago First performance: Corroios, May 1991, Moinho de Maré

4 mcd015.06 5 MANDALA [1990] MCD 003 ALENTOUR ALLANT MÊME [2003] MOMENT À L’EXTRÊMEMENT... [2005/2006] YUAN ZHI YUAN (from origin to origins) [1998] marimba clarinet, french horn, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello, doublebass and cello and live electronics soprano, tenor, 6 traditional Chinese instruments, chamber choir, live First performance: Lisbon, September 1990, Palácio Fronteira live electronics Commissioned by Collectif éOle electronics. Sung in Chinese using texts by the classic Taoist Huain- First performance: Coimbra, September 2003, Musica Viva Festival First performance: Toulouse, April 2006, Théâtre National de Tou- anzi (second century B.C.) DÉPOSER LA FORÊT [1990] MCD 003 Ensemble Antipodes louse, Festival MIRA Commissioned by Fundação Oriente flute, cymbals, bells, gongs, crotales and live electronics Juliane Trémoulet - cello First performance: Lisbon, September 1998, Grande Auditório, Commissioned by Rádio Difusão Portuguesa Antena-2 EIKO-IN ou les modèles de l’indifférence [2001/2002] Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian First performance: Lisbon, 1990, RDP Auditorium for violin, trombone, piano and live electronics PARA SAXOFONE [2003] Xing Rufeng - soprano, Gao Yongping - tenor, Huaxia Ensemble Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture together with a grant from bass saxophone and live electronics (China), Antifonia choir (Romania), cond. Tsung Yeh CRFMW - Liège, Belgium First performance: Porto, June 2003, Teatro Rivoli CONSTELAÇÕES [1989] MCD 003 First performance: Brussels, March 2002, Ars Musica Festival, En- Rico Gubler - saxophone flute and marimba semble L’Autre Trio, live-electronics Jean-Marc Sullon Commissioned by Fundação das Casas de Fronteira e Alorna DE L’ÉTANT QUI LE NIE [1998] First performance: Lisbon, October 1989, Palácio Fronteira DERRIÈRE SON DOUBLE [2001] piano and live electronics for flute/bass flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, viola, violoncello, Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture PASSING ROOMS [1988] MCD 001 piano and live electronics First performance: Lisbon, November 1998, Festival Música em No- Electro-acoustic Music: flute and percussion Commissioned by PORTO 2001 vembro LIQUIDUS SONORUS LUMINARIS – TWO PART INVENTIONS FOR First performance: Sintra Casino, September 1988 First performance: Porto, April 2001, Festival Música Viva Alain Neveux - piano TWO OSCILLATORS [2005] Ensemble Recherche, cond.Johannes Kalitzke Commissioned by Oeiras Municipality 1 +1 =3 [1988] MCD 001 DU NÉANT QUI LE CROIT [1994] First performance: Oeiras, June 2005, Parque dos Poetas flute and percussion SOUND PREFERENCES or A Forma do Silêncio [1999] bassoon and live electronics First performance :Portimão parish church, August 1988, Parish flute, percussion, organ and live electronics Commissioned by Fundação das Casas de Fronteira e Alorna MATRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR [2004] Church Commissioned by Gegenwelten Festival - Heidelberg First performance: Lisboa, May 1994, Grande Auditório, Fundação music and video First performance: Heidelberg, October 1999, Jesuiten Kirche / Ge- Calouste Gulbenkian Commissioned by Teatro Rivoli ARCANO III,V,IX [1986/92] genwelten Festival Robert Glassburner - bassoon First performance: Porto, May 2004, Teatro Rivoli wood drums Miso Ensemble, Thomas Bening - organ UNE AILE POURVU QU’ELLE SOIT DU CYGNE [1993] LE DICIBLE ENFIN FINI [2003] ARCANO I,II,IV,VI,VII,VIII [1986/92] PARFAIRE LE BLEU [1996/1998] piano First performance: Bourges, June 2004, Palais Jacques Coeur flute and wood drums flute, harpsichord and live electronics (version I) First performance: Lisbon, May 1994, Grande Auditório, Fundação Festival Synthèse clarinet, piano and live electronics (version II) Calouste Gulbenkian 4 ESTAÇÖES [1987/88] MCD 001 Commissioned by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian Roberto Bollea - piano SOBREPOSIÇÕES [1998/1999] Amplified flute and amplified percussion First performance (version II): Lisbon, May 1999, Grande Auditório First performance: Lisbon, April 2000, Auditorium of the Instituto Exposisom prize awarded by Juventude Musical Portuguesa Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian Franco Português 1st composition prize in the Culture and Development Competition 1988 Alain Damiens - clarinet, Alain Neveux – piano Festival Música Viva First performance: Évora, May 1987,Teatro Garcia de Resende MAMMOUTHS OVER THE RAINBOW [1989] COMUNICAÇÕES [1998] ASCÈSE [1986] flute, trumpet, prepared piano, percussion and live electronics Vocal Music / with/without instruments: First performance: Lisbon, November 1998, Grande Auditório, Cul- Flute and percussion First performance: Lisbon, October 1989, Palácio Fronteira turgest First performance: Évora, May 1986,Teatro Garcia de Resende Miso Ensemble, Sei Miguel-trumpet, Sérgio Pelágio-prepared piano O CENTRO DO EXCENTRICO DO CENTRO DO MUNDO [1999/2002] Festival Música em Novembro 16 solo voices, 2 speaking voices and live electronics, sung in Latin and old Portuguese with texts by mathematician Pedro Nunes (16th 96 DIGITAL BELLS [1993] century) Commissioned by Centro Cultural de Belém and ARX Portugal Commissioned by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian First performance: Lisbon, June 1993, Centro Cultural de Belém Chamber Music: Solo Instruments: First performance of 1st version: Lisbon, May 2000, Grande Au- (except works for flute and percussion) (except works for flute or percussion) ditório, Culturgest DÉPOSER LA FORÊT [1990] Soloists from the Gulbenkian Choir, cond. Jorge Mata First performance: Santiago de Compostela, July 1993, Centro Ga- ÁGUAS MARINHAS [2004/2005] SOIT SEUL SÛR DE SON [2004/2006] First performance of 2nd version: Coimbra, November 2002, S.Jorge lego de Arte Contemporânea 15 instruments violin de Milreu Monastery Commissioned by the Japanese Society for Contemporary Music Commissioned by Casa da Musica Singcircle, cond. Gregory Rose First performance: Tokyo, March 2005, Tsuda Hall First performance: Strasbourg, September 2006, Festival MUSICA ComeT Chamber Orquestra, cond. Kokagi Angel Gimeno - violin

6 mcd015.06 7 MÚSICA E TEXTURAS SONORAS [1998] A DISPUTA [1995] Opera: music and sound installation in 94 audio channels for the exhibition Marivaux, Companhia de Teatro do Teatro Nacional D.Maria II, di- designed for the Knowledge of the Seas Pavilion by ARX Portugal. rected by João Perry O ITINERÁRIO DO SAL [2006] Lisbon – Knowledge of the Seas Pavilion, Expo ’98. CDs Electroacoustic opera with live electronics and live video O JOGO DAS PERGUNTAS [1993] texts by Miguel Azguime TERRA-MÃE...TERRA-PÃO [1995] Peter Handke, Companhia de Teatro da Cornucópia, directed by Commissioned by Portuguese Ministry of Culture with extra support Corroios - Seixal - Moinho de Maré Stephan Stroux by DAAD and TÜ Berlin. First performance: Toulouse, April 2005 - Festival MIRA REALIDADE-REAL [1993] PIMAVERA NEGRA [1993] Miso Ensemble Sound installation for architectural exhibition by Nuno Mateus/ ARX Raúl Brandão, Companhia de Teatro da Cornucópia, directed by Luís Lisbon - Centro Cultural de Belém Miguel Cintra

PAINTINGS [1990] MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING [1990] Sound installation for exhibition of paintings by Jorge Vilaça Shakespeare, Companhia de Teatro da Cornucópia directed by Luís Sound Poetry / Musical Theatre: Lisbon – Goethe Institut Miguel Cintra. Jointly composed with Paula Azguime and Constança Capdeville. Performed live by Miso Ensemble A PROCURA DE DIZER AS PALAVRAS DOS POETAS [2002] DÉPOSER LA FORÊT [1990] 8 speaking voices Sound installation for exhibition of sculptures by Bauduin texts by several Portuguese poets Paris - Musée de la Forêt Commissioned by Teatro Viriato Music for Film: First performance: Viseu, September 2002, Teatro Viriato MANUEL VICENTE EXHIBITION [1989] Sound installation for exhibition of architecture DAPHNE [2005] O AR DO TEXTO OPERA A FORMA DO SOM INTERIOR [2001] Lisbon - Galeria EMI-Valentim de Carvalho Directed by Perseu Mandillo sound poetry performance with texts by Miguel Azguime, for a speaking flutist and a speaking percussionist. ONDE BATE O SOL [1989] First performance: Guarda, May 2001 - Festival Correntes de Ar. Directed by Joaquim Pinto First performance of the new version: Porto, November 2001, Teatro Multimedia: da Vilarinha UMA PEDRA NO BOLSO [1988] Miso Ensemble TEATRO VIRTUAL [1998] Directed by Joaquim Pinto POESIA CANTADA [2000] music for video 8 speaking voices Produced by SONO (Barcelona) texts by several Portuguese poets Commissioned by Sindicato de Poesia REALIDADE-REAL [1993] Music for Dance: First performance: Braga, July 2000, Salão Medieval, Biblioteca music for video by Nuno Mateus Pública de Braga Produced by INESC (Lisbon) SELF(ISH)PORTRAIT [1995] Choreographed by João Fiadeiro First performance: Lisbon, Festival A AUSENCIA DO AUTOR [1999] DÉPOSER LA FORÊT [1990] Danças na Cidade for voice, table, paper, pen and live electronics music for video by Bauduin Texts by Miguel Azguime; Miguel Azguime – voice and percussion Produced by Bauduin (Paris) SOLOS, choreographed by João Fiadeiro [1992/93/94] First performance: Lisbon, May 1999, Grande Auditório, Fundação First performance: Rennes, October 1992, Théatre National de Calouste Gulbenkian Bretagne Performed live by Miguel Azguime Music for Theatre: SOLO PARA DOIS INTÉRPRETES [1991] Installations and Music for Exhibitions: 12 ROUNDS [1997] Choreographed by João Fiadeiro Matarile Teatro, Santiago de Compostela, directed by Ana Vallés First performance: Leuwen - Belgium, October 91, Festival Europála. Performed live by Miso Ensemble BARCOS MEMÓRIAS DO TEJO [2005] Sound installation for the shipping exhibition at the Seixal Ecomu- A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM [1996] seum Arrentela - Seixal Shakespeare, Companhia de Teatro do Teatro Nacional D.Maria II, directed by João Perry

8 mcd015.06 9 Gregory Rose has composed works for orchestra, on the Hyperion, Wergo, Continuum, October and directed strongly and unobtrusively by Gregory including Tapiola Sunrise, Birthday Ode for Dacapo labels. Rose, showed what an exciting medium this can Aaron Copland, Cristalflood and Thambapani, Founded by Gregory Rose in 1976, the basic be.” News Letter, Belfast works for chorus and many arrangements. His ensemble consists of four to six amplified vocalists 57 White Horse Road, LondonE1 0ND UK Missa Sancta Pauli Apostoli was premiered in with sound design, and has established a reputation [email protected] Gregory Rose 2006 by the choir of St Paul’s Cathedral. He has for performing premières and commissioning new also become a specialist in the music of Johann works. Singcircle has performed twice at the BBC Nepomuk Hummel, having completed his Violin Promenade Concerts in London, in 1978 with Concerto, which he recorded on the Naxos label Stockhausen’s , a piece with which it has with Aleksandr Trostiansky and the Russian become closely identified, and in September 1989 The versatility of international conductor Gregory Philharmonic Orchestra. He has worked closely in a performance of Alejandro Viñao’s Son Entero. Rose has encompassed the orchestral, operatic with composers such as Stockhausen, Cage, Steve Their extensive repertoire also includes works by and choral repertoire of the Classical, Romantic and Reich, Miguel Azguime and Stephen Montague, Luciano Berio, , Jonathan Harvey, Steve twentieth century masters and leading composers of and has appeared in festivals throughout Europe, Reich and Stephen Montague, whose Tigida Pipa today, many of whose works he has premiered. He including two BBC Promenade concerts with was released on CD. Singcircle has performed Tsung Yeh studied violin, piano and singing as a young child and Singcircle. He has directed Singcircle in over 50 Stimmung over fifty times, and the Hyperion CD of later was a pupil of Hans Jelinek (Vienna Academy) performances of Stockhausen’s Stimmung. He the work has sold all over the world. and Egon Wellesz (Oxford University), both former has recorded for many international television and Singcircle has frequently toured, both in Britain and students of , and of his father, radio stations, and has made highly acclaimed overseas. This included a tour of Norway in 1990 the choral conductor and composer Bernard Rose. recordings for Chandos, Hyperion, Wergo, which culminated in an appearance at the ISCM Shanghai-born conductor Tsung Yeh holds He is Music Director of the Jupiter Orchestra, Jupiter Continuum and October Music, and has arranged Festival in Oslo. The ensemble has performed in a unique historical position in being the first Singers, the amplified vocal quartet, Singcircle and and conducted for Linda Ronstadt, Madness and recent years at festivals in Linz, Karlsruhe, Turku conductor ever to hold music directorships both COMA London Ensemble. Diana Ross. He is a professor of conducting at (Finland), the 1991 Warsaw Autumn Festival, of a western symphony orchestra and a major Gregory Rose has conducted throughout Eastern Trinity College of Music, London. the 1992 computer music “Nemo” Festival in Chinese instrument symphony orchestra. He and Western Europe and the Far East, including the Aarhus, and the “NYYD ‘92” contemporary music presently holds posts as Conductor Laureate of St Petersburg Symphony (Russia), Finnish Radio festival in Tallinn and Tartu (Estonia), and twice the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Music Director of the Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestras, and at the ‘Sonorities’ Festival, Belfast. Singcircle Singapore Chinese Orchestra, and Music Director the National Symphony Orchestras of Estonia, Latvia, first appeared in Portugal at the International of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. Lithuania and Ireland, and the Tapiola Sinfonietta. Music Festival, Mafra, in October 1997 and then Among his recent guest conducting appearances He has conducted operas by Bizet, , Virgil performed the premiere of Miguel Azguime’s O have been the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Thomson, , Samuel Barber, Centro do Excêntrico do Centro do Mundo for 16 San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Nino Rota, Gian Carlo Menotti, Singcircle solo voices and computer electronics in Coimbra, Philharmonique de Radio France, The Minnesota and Toshio Hosokawa. He has conducted many a Portugal in 2002. Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Singapore cappella programmes, including all-Russian works Singcircle is one of the leading exponents of An appearance at the Sonorities Festival in Belfast Symphony, China National Symphony, Shanghai for the Netherland Radio Choir and the BBC Singers, contemporary vocal music. The ensemble has attracted the following notice: “Singcircle showed Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, as and a programme of Janácek and Liszt with the performed in major international festivals, made that they are fine musicians who can mesmerise well as numerous other orchestras in the U.S., many radio and television appearances, and Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. and excite their audience by turn...The ensemble, Europe, and Asia. released highly acclaimed commercial recordings

10 mcd015.06 11 In an age of conductors specializing in ever and western, has led to highly acclaimed and Tosca (Tosca). narrowing niches within the musical world, Maestro appearances with the Ensemble 2e2m in Paris, In 1990 Xing Rufeng leaves China to settle in Yeh repeatedly demonstrates an uncanny ability to Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and France, studying at the Paris École Normale de transcend boundaries both musical and cultural on the Huaxia Ensemble) and the ASCAP Award for Musique and at the Reuil-Malmaison National three continents. Adventurous Programming. Tsung Yeh is also Co- Conservatory with Irene Sicot, Paul Finet and Appointed Music Director of the Singapore Artistic Director of the “Symphonic Workshop” Komdo Fusako. She performs at the Cortot Hall, Huaxia Chinese Orchestra in January 2002. During Tsung for conductors in the Czech Republic and also at La Bastille’s Opera Theatre and at the Radio Yeh’s tenure, the orchestra has made remarkable regularly teaches conducting workshops in other France’s Olivier Messiaen Hall, in the context of progress in becoming an orchestra of international parts of Europe and Asia . the “Présences” Festival. reputation. In addition to highly successful Mr. Yeh has recorded for the Hugo and Delos record Xing Rufeng is part of the Paris National Opera (La concerts in its own hall, the orchestra frequently labels with several orchestras. His performances Bastille) cast since 1992. Huaxia (as in the ancient name given to China) performs to sold-out audiences in Singapore‘s have been broadcast on radio throughout the is an ensemble/group of musicians who play famous The Esplanade Arts Center, including the U.S. , Europe and Asia . Of particular note was exclusively traditional Chinese instruments. Having opening extravaganza of the facility. In March and his May 2001 Paris-Shanghai Duplex Concert some of the best musical performers from China, April 2005, the orchestra marks its first venture to with the French National Symphony Orchestra this formation aims at maintaining and promoting Europe traveling to the Barbican Centre in London, and Shanghai Broadcasting Orchestra which was the ancient Chinese music as well as its popular The Sage Gateshead in New Castle , England and satellite telecast throughout Europe and Asia with Gao Yongping ( t e n o r ) music. The members of Huaxia have studied at the Budapest Spring Festival an audience estimated at over 30 million viewers. the finest schools and have been disciples of some As Music Director and Principal Conductor of the www.stantonmgt.com/Conductors/tsung_yeh.htm Born in Beijing in China, Gao Yongping gets to be of the most highly regarded teachers, some of South Bend Symphony Orchestra in the United employed as an actor at the Tibet Drama Theatre them have also received awards in national and States since 1988, Tsung Yeh has brought similar at the age of 17. After a nine-year long career international musical competitions. This ensemble, musical, orchestral and audience building abilities at the theatre, he starts singing at the Beijing which has performed in Europe, America, Asia to the orchestra which is now considered one of Central Song and Dance Ensemble. Gao Yongping and Africa is considered truly promising. Apart the finest regional orchestras in the central United studies at the Beijing Central Music Conservatory from that, this ensemble is currently the only States . Xing Rufeng ( s o p r a n o ) and afterwards he moves to Genève where he one playing traditional Chinese instruments for In 1991, he was among three conductors chosen completes his studies and builds his repertoire. a contemporary repertoire. In the same scope, for the Conductor Mentor Program of the American Born in Beijing, China, she has studied with Zheng He has worked at the Paris National Opera and Huaxia works very closely with composers, living in Symphony Orchestra League working with Daniel Ti, Gao Zhi-lan and Wen Ke-zheng at the Shanghai hired by the Genève’s Grand Théâtre. He has China and abroad. This is not only a challenge, but Barenboim and Pierre Boulez at the Chicago Conservatory, as well as with guest teachers, performed on Dom Pasquale, Eugene Oneguine, also an important bet and an enthusiastic call to Symphony Orchestra. He previously held posts namely with Beverly Sills. Between 1984 and 1987 Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Idomeneo and on the composers and musicians, which can certainly as Exxon/Arts Endowment Conductor of the Saint she joins the Central China Choir in Beijing and several concerts in China, Switzerland, France and lead to a change in the traditional instruments way Louis Symphony Orchestra, Resident Conductor of collaborates with the Central China Orchestra for Germany, singing pieces from Bach, Beethoven, of playing, encouraging the development of a new The Florida Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor several concerts in Hong Kong and in the United Britten, Haendel, Mozart, Rossini, Shubert and musical creation for those instruments. of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Music Director States, distinguishing herself in Beethoven’s Strauss, among others. of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Symphony No.9 and in Hsien Hsing-hai’s Yellow and Music Director of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. River Cantata. Between 1987 and 1989 joins the His interest in contemporary music, both eastern Shanghai Opera, performing as Micaela (Carmen)

12 mcd015.06 13 the work Traverser la Forêt for choir and chamber classics of Romanian choral music (Gh. Dima, D. has always promoted an open and free orienta- orchestra, a work requested by the Musical Week G. Kiriac, Gh. Cucu, A. Bena, P. Constantinescu), tion towards a new kind of music. Due to his hard from Namur, 1987. also the Byzantine contemporary music and the and enthusiastic work, Constantin Rîpa raised the Antifonia After a silence (1987-1989) imposed on political international music. In the later years, Antifonia Antifonia choir to the highest standards of sing- backgrounds, in 1990 Antifonia appears again, involved itself in the activity of recording CDs ing, turning it into one of today’s most important The Antifonia Choir was founded in November being requested to participate at the most requested by various composers (Max Stern, Luis choral ensembles. 1969, at the Academy of Music “Gheorghe Dima” - outstanding festivals around the world as Wienn de Los Cobos Alamarez, Helmut Willander, Stefan [email protected] Cluj-Napoca, as an initiative of professor Constantin Modern, Musique d’Aujord’hui - Strasbourg, Niculescu, etc..., and specialized in the vocal- Rîpa. From the beginning its goal was to perform Wienner Musiksommer, Festival Chais-Dieu symphonic literature by performing: Carmina contemporary music. Therefore, Antifonia becomes - France, Cluj Modern, Festivalul Muzicii Burana by Carl Orff, The 9th Symphony by L. van the first laboratory of contemporary music for the contemporane - Bucharest. The Antifonia choir Beethoven, Requiem by G. Verdi, Oratoriul bizantin Romanian and international musical creation. participates in great musical projects as: Nekuia de Craciun by Paul Cosntantinescu, etc... The first stage of existence (about ten years) is the by Iannis Xenakis, Requiem by Alois Zimmermann, In this way, Antifonia realized impressive period of achieving a national acknowledgement: Requiem by G. Ligeti, Grande Messe des Morts by achievements: about 500 concerts, various Radio- concerts, radio and TV recordings, participations Hector Berlioz, Fragende Ode by Mauricio Kagel, TV recordings, CDs, performing over 1000 musical at national festivals and contests. In this period of In Cauda by Franco Donatoni, Und Gott der Herr works belonging to more than 150 composers time there were brought to light over 200 works of sprach by Francis Burt, The 9th Symphony by having received numerous international prizes. Romanian an foreign composers (about 50). L. van Beethoven, Jeanne d’Arc au Bucher by Academia de Muzica “Gh.Dima” In 1979 Antifonia started its international activity Arthur Honneger, Canti di Liberazione by Luigi c/o prof. univ. dr. Constantin Ripa by participating in the most outstanding European Dallapiccola, Coram Requiem by Ivan Fedele, str. I.C.Bratianu nr. 25 Cluj-Napoca Romania competitions, and winning 14 international awards etc..., Antifonia collaborated with great orchestras in three years (1979 Haga - Holland; Spittal-Drau as: Bratislava Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic, - Austria; 1980 Middlesbrough - England; 1981 Radio-France Orchestra, “Symphoniker” Wien, Lindburg - Germany; Arezzo - Italy; 1982 and Basel Philharmonic, Lyon Philharmonic, The State 2002 Neerpelt - Belgium). Philharmonic of Cluj-Napoca, Symphonic Radio- These awards brought along its worldwide Orchestra Bucharest, etc..., orchestras conducted acknowledgement and Antifonia was more and by outstanding personalities as Rafael Frübeck more often requested to perform international first de Burgos, Peter Burwik, Richard Edlinger, Alain Constantin Rîpa auditions and to participate in European festivals Lombard, Zoltan Pesko, Petre Zbarcea, Gheorghe Having a complex personality, Constantin Rîpa at the most difficult projects. Thus, Antifonia Costin, Yehudi Menuhin, Krzysztof Penderecki. In is a composer, a choir conductor and a Musical becomes the first ensemble to present the work of the same time, the choir performed numerous Theory teacher with a Master in Musicology His Iannis Xenakis Idmen in first absolute audition at a cappella works in Romania, Spain, France, works encompassed all genres: symphonic music the festival Europa Cantat from Strasbourg, 1985 Austria, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Hungary and and vocal music, chamber music, choral (including (this work of a great difficulty was performed in it has accomplished radio recordings in France, pieces for children) and “lieds”. As a teacher he collaboration with Les Percussions de Strasbourg Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland in which has published schoolbooks and manuals, as well under the direction of the Spanish conductor the choir promoted the Romanian musical as a variety of academic works as a musicologist. Pierre Colomer. A year later, the Belgian composer creation, especially the religious music of the Henri Pousseur created especially for Antifonia Founder and conductor of the Antifonia choir, he

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