Jury's reasoning Ketil Hvoslef is the most subtle of composers, and in this relatively short, concentrated work he does not deny himself. One cello can make more sound than most other string instruments, and when – as here – 8 cellists add breadth to convey a family story, the result is an energy, drama and humor that […]
/ 31/03/2014 / codexKetil Hvoslef is the most subtle of composers, and in this relatively short, concentrated work he does not deny himself. One cello can make more sound than most other strings, and when – as here – 8 cellists add breadth to convey a family story, it results in an energy, drama and humor that is far from self-evident in today's concert halls. The work is full of surprises. Just when you think you have grasped the point and form, something new, something unpredictable happens. The composer uses the entire finely tuned expressive register that a combined cello group can display, from the small, barely audible detail, up to the large, harmonious canvas.
Octopus Rex, with its concise, concentrated form, is an exceptionally successful addition to a current repertoire.