Reviews

Inner emotion and beauty

If one knows the 24 Preludes and Fugues of Shostakovich from the frostily precise, and still so very beautifully urgent interpretation of pianist Tatiana Nikolaeva, one will be pleasantly surprised when hearing the interpretation of reed quintet Calefax. Unlike the pianist, to whom the composer dedicated the set, the wind players of Calefax emphasize the intimacy, almost romanticism, that often does not play a part in interpretations of Shostakovich' work. As if the music of this Sovjet Russian, whose music still produces a large scale of emotions, is best served with a distant, realistic tone.
Eduard Wesly, the former oboist of Calefax, arranged 14 of the 24 Preludes and Fugues in such a way that the inner emotion and beauty of the sound can blossom fully. The arrangements pay homage to both Shostakovich' counterpoint and to Calefax' strength. On the whole, the romanticism, the folklore and Shostakovich' careful modernism are beautifully brought to light. The notes are in good hands, because Calefax plays more than beautifully and makes this cd a more than worthy outcome of the Philip Morris Art Prize that the ensemble was rewarded with in 1997. Performance 9

(source: Luister, 01/2004)

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  The Music Factory wins German award : Theaterkrant 2012
  Calefax and North Netherlands Orchestra in Liszt's Totentanz : Dagblad van het Noorden, 3 november 2012
  Calefax second 'house ensemble' for Leiden : Leidsch Dagblad 18 oktober 2012
  Calefax-esprit : Ensemble magazine, augustus 2012
  'Calefax Quintett hat das Publikum voll im Griff' : Münchner Merkur, 16 juni 2012
  Bach Goldberg Variations in Oranjewoud : Friesch Dagblad, 14 mei 2012
  Calefax and Lenneke Ruiten in deSingel Antwerpen : Klassiek Centraal
  Intimate songs in a playful musical bed : Eindhovens Dagblad, april 2012
  Driven class with Reed Quintet Calefax and soprano Lenneke Ruiten : Trouw, april 2012
  Calefax on Dutch Radio 6 in 'De Avonden' : VPRO Radio 6
  Goldberg Variations 5 stars in Dutch newspaper Volkskrant : Volkskrant 11 april 2012
  'Unbelieveble' - Calefax in Dutch news paper Telegraaf : Telegraaf, 7 april 2012
  Goldbergvariationen : Klassiek Centraal
  'This was an exceptional concert, which received astonished acclamation from the BBC's regular lunchtime audience.' : Musical Pointers
  Calefax: Breath of Fresh Airs : San Fransisco Classical Voice
  Calefax Reed Quintet at Sunset Center : Peninsula Reviews
  Hans-Dieter Grünefeld about Calefax in Sonic - Wood & Brass : Sonic Wood & Brass
  Calefax and Jungle Boldie on Jazz festival Leiden : Leidsch dagblad, 27 januari 2012
  Calefax Reed Quintet with 'Moving Music' : blog Concertzender
  Raaf Hekkema about Calefax in newsletter Festival Oranjewoud : Stichting Landgoedconcerten Oranjewoud, 2011
  Calefax in leading music magazine ‘Luister’ : Luister, april/mei 2011
  Calefax in Chamber Music America Magazine : Chamber Music America Magazine, 2010
  'Live they are breath takingly great' : blog recensie Moors Magazine
  CalefaXL juggles with notes : Volkskrant
  New CD Sander Germanus : Volkskrant
  New arrival: CalefaXL CD : MCN website
  Waving reeds : VPRO gids, 24 maart 2011
  Calefax is constantly searching for unique projects : Volkskrant, 28 maart 2011
   Calefax in German magazine 'Ensemble' (august/september 2010) : Ensemble Magazin
  'Addicted to the sound of so many reeds' : Trouw, 22 maart 2011
  Calefax concert lottery in Dutch Newspaper NRC : NRC Handelsblad, 5 maart 2011
  PAN by Hans Koolmees: 'The freedom of the historical form' : Trouw, 3 maart 2011
  Muziek uit buizenfabriek : PZC (Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant), 2 maart 2010
  Calefax at Wigmore Hall with La Spagna : www.classicalsource.com, 14 februari 2011
  Bach Goldberg Variations in Wigmore Hall : Musical Pointers, 2009
  Calefax in the Los Angeles Bradbury Building : The Minty - writer, artist, foodie in LA
  'Auf Duke Ellingtons Spuren' : Westdeutsche Zeitung
  "Spectacle in benefit of classical music" : Vrij Nederland, 20 maart 2010
  'Calefax Reed Quintet's fresh approach wows Ventura Music Festival audience' : Ventura County Star
  'A mighty wind', Palo Alto Weekly/USA, 23 April 2010 :
  Calefax Reed Quintet sell out : El País - 16-03-2010
  Calefax' Tierkreis one of the highlights of the Stockhausen festival : Volkskrant, 8 februari 2010
  "shiny ear rings and sensible shoes" : NRC, 19 november 2009
  Superb feats of melted styles : Trouw, 6 oktober 2009
  "Bizarre Zeitspiele" : Ensemble April/Mai 2009
  "Klangfantasie" : Piano News Mai/Juni 2009
  Old fashion monkey orchestra tripping on extasy : Luister, zomer '09
  Breathtaking trip trough rough landscape : Klassieke Zaken
  Such suite music : The Hindu, 18-03-2009
  Dazzling Nancarrow : Telegraaf, 7 februari 2009
  Lovely and raw sound with Calefax : De Volkskrant, 26 januari 2009
  A brilliant Calefax doens't care about the rules : Brabants Dagblad, 21 januari 2009
  CD: Conlon Nancarrow - Studies for player piano 01/2009 : Het Parool, 14 januari 2009
  A surprising melange of jazz, world music and classics : Trouw, 30 december 2008
  Five extremely gifted Dutch gents: Times (July 17, 2008) : Times
  New York Reviews (8 juli 2008) : New York Times / New Jersy Star Ledger (8 july 2008)
  Sparkling treats : The Daily Telegraph,12/2007 (Ivan Hewett)
  Exciting Mix of Bassoon and Electronics : De Volkskrant, 09/2007
  Calefax Reed Quintet plays sensitively and perfectly in tune : NRC Handelsblad, 04/2007
  Calefax Ventures on Nancarrow’s Musical Involutions : De Volkskrant, 04/2006
  Five souls playing as one : De Telegraaf, Thiemo Wind 01/2006
  Happy Event : De Volkskrant, 02/2006
  Calefax proves it is in a class of its own : De Volkskrant, 09/2005
  Dazzling CD : NRC Handelsblad, 06/2005
  Wind wizards : mdg web site, 01/2004
  The beautiful amalgam : Trouw, 02/2004
  Heroic performance : De Volkskrant, 11/2003
  The art of virtuoso arranging : De Volkskrant, 11/2003
  A wonderful discovery : Sud Ouest, 08/2003
  Bordering the superhuman : De Volkskrant, 04/2003
  Stunning musicianship : Hampstead & Highgate Express, 05/2001
  Spirited and polished : Matthew Rye/ Daily Telegraph, 05/2001
  Essential listening : BBC Music Magazine, 02/2001
  This is great! Buy it! : American Record Guide, 01/2001
  Superb ensemble playing : BBC Music Magazine, 11/2001
  An act of love : Chamber Music, 12/2000
  Musical photorealism : De Volkskrant, 11/2000
  Isles of poetry : FonoForum, 10/1997
  Almost painful beauty : Fanfare, 10/1997
  Wonderfully hypnotic : Sonart Music Vision, 10/1993