Ikon Arts News

Ikon Arts Management, in association with Southbank Centre and London Sinfonietta, brings minimalist icon Steve Reich to Southbank Centre tomorrow (Saturday 31st October) to perform an exclusive concert of his own music with contemporary experimental group Bang on a Can and the London Sinfonietta.

"Minimalist icon Steve Reich leads this performance of his own music. Visiting from New York, Bang on a Can perform the first half including the early classic Clapping Music, the lilting layers of Electric Counterpoint and the brilliant Sextet. The London Sinfonietta take the stage in the second half with the phenomena that is Music for 18 Musicians with its perfect blend of voices and instruments with pulsing riffs and shimmering harmonies."

Read more on the Southbank Centre website.

Stile Antico's long-awaited New York debut on Sunday 25th October has received the highest praise in the New York Times.

"...an ensemble of breathtaking freshness, vitality and balance...the singers kept a keen eye on one another, giving their pitch-perfect sound a finely honed precision in the rippling sequences of Clemens non Papa's "Ego flos campi" and the ricocheting counterpoint of Sebastian de Vivanco's "Veni, dilecte mi." Rich harmonies in selections by Nicolas Gombert and Jean Lheritier had a luminous glow."

Read the full review here.

London's diverse a cappella community come together under one roof to celebrate the unaccompanied human voice. Curated by the world-famous 5-time Grammy-winning vocal group the Swingle Singers, the inaugural London A Cappella Festival at London's Kings Place showcases some of the best of the UK's choral, jazz, contemporary, and gospel ensembles, including special guests, with music ranging from sacred Renaissance polyphony to crowd-pleasing pop and blistering beatbox.p

In addition to the Swingle Singers, acts include internationally-acclaimed gospel stars London Adventist Chorale (Sainsbury Choir of the Year; BBC Gem Best Choir award), Grammy-nominated early music ensemble Stile Antico, and hot young pop/jazz group VOCES8, as well as many other groups from the huge local a cappella community.

Free foyer performances and afternoon workshops will also help to capture the imagination of people young and old, in various spaces within Kings Place. Education for the masses will be an integral part of the festival's commitments; whether the festival-goers are experienced singers or only have experience of singing in the shower (!), the opportunities for sharing and learning at the London A Cappella Festival will be limitless.

"Something very special happens when singers come together to share their ideas, talents, and love of the art form", says Kevin Fox, bass and vocal-percussionist of the Swingle Singers. "What's really exciting for us is that not only do we get to share the stage with a wonderful and diverse line-up of talent, but that Londoners young and old will get to experience what will undoubtedly be a truly electric atmosphere. The Swingle Singers are proud to be there at the inception, and look forward to the festival's long and prosperous future!"

Tickets go on sale from Kings Place from 14th November 2009. For more information please contact Holly in the Swingle Singers' office: 020 7359 0112

More than 150 years after his death, one of Schumann's wishes has come true. He suggested that his Cello Concerto be published not only in its original form, but also in a version with accompaniment for strings only. Last year an arrangement was made by the Swiss violinist and composer Arthur Lilienthal — and it has just had its first performance at the Wigmore Hall.

The string players of the Southbank Sinfonia stood in an arc around their soloist, Raphael Wallfisch, and gave it their all. In this piece, they're usually pretty subservient to the virtuosity of the soloist. But, having to take on the conversation and comments of an entire orchestra in their hard-working bows, the violas in particular had to be on their mettle. The piece was transformed. This was densely inter-communicated chamber music, with Wallfisch relishing the work's soaring lyricism and his duetting with many an orchestral soloist. In the finale he acted as dance master demonstrating and sharing each leaping step.

(Extract from The Times review: 8th October 2009)

Ikon Arts Management is delighted to announce that Stile Antico, the 'brightest news stars' of Renaissance music (The Telegraph) have won a Gramophone Award in the Early Music category for their latest CD release 'Song of Songs'.

The award comes amid several highlights in the group's performing calendar this year, which last week saw the group give their debut performance at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, as well as their 2nd tour to the USA and Canada later this month.

For full details of the award winners please visit the Gramophone website. For details of Stile Antico's upcoming performances, please visit the group's website. For bookings and press information please contact Holly Skelton