SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL: Best Musical Events of 2013
photo: Michael Nagle for The New York Times
Our Reviewers’ Choices for Best Musical Events of 2013
Monica Germino and Frank van der Weij in SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL's top picks for 2013.
"In a program for violin and electronics at the Austrian Cultural Forum, Amsterdam-based Monica Germino showed the power of savvy programming, with Frank van der Weij using technology about as perfectly as it gets (June 13)."
-Bruce Hodges
The show included US premieres by David Dramm, Karlheinz Essl, Annie Gosfied, and Arnoud Noordegraaf, plus works by Louis Andriessen and Donnacha Dennehy. The composers introduced their pieces in short video clips.
Click here to read more about the top 2013 choices!
& check out Bruce Hodge's complete review of the show in the September issue of The Strad magazine
The Strad: Sophistication and showmanship
- by Bruce Hodges
"…Monica Germino gave a veritable masterclass on the use of violin and electronics, packed with sophistication and showmanship."
"a violinist who leaves no elements to chance"
"electronics wizard Frank van der Weij"
Live TV BROADCAST on NTR
Live broadcast on Dutch National Television NTR
Robert Zuidam: Bosch Requiem (premiere)
November Music 2013
St. Janskathedraal, Den Bosch, The Netherlands
Nederlands Kamerkoor / Asko|Schönberg
conductor: Reinbert de Leeuw
soloists: Katrien Baerts (soprano), Helena Rasker (alto), Pascal Bertin (counter tenor), Thomas Oliemans (baritone), Monica Germino (electric violin)
NLRF 2013: Moscow & St Petersburg
pictured: drawing by audience member of Michaela Riener & Monica Germino
Netherlands – Russia Year: NLRF2013
Performing in Moscow & St Petersburg: Louis Andriessen's La Passione, a double concerto for voice & violin
Saturday 16 November 2013, 19.00
venue: State Capella, Moika 20, St. Petersburg
program of works by Louis Andriessen: De Staat, La Passione
-with the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble; Jurjen Hempel, conductor
soloists: Michaela Riener, voice; Monica Germino, violin
click here for more info
Thursday 14 November 2013, 19.00
venue: Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Trimfalnaya squarte 4/31, Moscow
program of works by Louis Andriessen: De Staat, La Passione
-with the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble; Jurjen Hempel, conductor
soloists: Michaela Riener, voice; Monica Germino, violin
click here for more info
Premiere of Rob Zuidam's Requiem
Friday, 8 november 2013, 19:30 -sold out! waiting list at the door-
November Music 2013
Robert Zuidam: Bosch Requiem
St Janskathedraal, Den Bosch, The Netherlands
Nederlands Kamerkoor / Asko|Schönberg
conductor: Reinbert de Leeuw
soloists: Katrien Baerts (soprano), Helena Rasker (alto), Pascal Bertin (counter tenor), Thomas Oliemans (baritone), Monica Germino (electric violin)
Heiner Goebbels: WALDEN
Ensemble Klang plays Heiner Goebbels' WALDEN
5 November, 20.15
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ; Amsterdam, The Netherlands
6 November, 20.15
Red Sofa Series
De Doelen; Rotterdam, The Netherlands
7 November, 22.00
November Music Festival
Verkadefabriek Kleine Zaal; Den Bosch, The Netherlands
ENSEMBLE KLANG EXTENDED:
Keir Neuringer, voice and saxes / Michiel van Dijk, reeds (Peter van Bergen for the Muziekgebouw) / Erik-Jan de With, reeds / Anton van Houten, trombone / Saskia Lankhoorn, keys / Joey Marijs, percussion / Pete Harden, guitars
Monica Germino, violin / Max Haft, violin and bow chimes / Max Knigge, viola / Esther Torrenga, cello / Jelte van Andel, Contrabass and electric bass
Tom Gelissen, sound Maarten Warmerdam, lights Brendan Faegre, percussion tech
New York
Monica Germino, violin/electric violin/voice
Frank van der Weij, sound design
US premieres at the ACFNY: David Dramm, Karlheinz Essl, Annie Gosfied, Arnoud Noordegraaf
BANG ON A CAN MARATHON: US premiere Julia Wolfe's With a blue dress on 
June 13, 7:30 PM
DEVIATION, a program for violinist and sound designer, presented by the Austrian Cultural Forum, New York
June 14, 2 PM
Workshop with Julia Wolfe, Austrian Cultural Forum
June 16, 1-10 PM
Bang on a Can Marathon, Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts
"Monica Germino Puts Electronics and Violin Together, and Myriad Sounds Ensue" - by Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, 16 June 2013
'...an arresting duality of sound and image...psychologically dark and unsettling...earthy and sharp pizzicati...snapping brain synapses...tapped, stomped, played, hummed and sang...a gloriously free and wild fiddle tantrum…virtuosity and mischief-making...digitally processed harmonics...emotional highlight...sonic mayhem...astonishingly rich...virtuosic violin line...rock ’n’ roll moment...binary fire-engine siren...constantly changing sonic environment...juicy double-stopped glissandi...electronic fireworks...affecting vulnerability…'
The New York Times: click here for entire event listing
Events»Classical & Opera
Monica Germino and Frank van der Weij
The Dutch duo of the violinist Monica Germino and the sound engineer Frank van der Weij present a multimedia program of contemporary works for solo violin and electronics by the composers Karlheinz Essl, Louis Andriessen and more.
TimeOut New York: Critic's pick
"This very enticing free program brings together two trailblazing Holland-based musicians, violinist Monica Germino and punk-rock bassist turned sound designer Frank van der Weij, for electroacoustic innovations composed by Louis Andriessen, Annie Gosfield, Donnacha Dennehy and others. You'll need a reservation, and you can make one at acfny.org." click here for TimeOut listing
SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL
Reviewers’ Choices for Best Musical Events of 2013
"In a program for violin and electronics at the Austrian Cultural Forum, Amsterdam-based Monica Germino showed the power of savvy programming, with Frank van der Weij using technology about as perfectly as it gets."
The Strad Magazine
Sophistication and showmanship - by Bruce Hodges
"…Monica Germino gave a veritable masterclass on the use of violin and electronics, packed with sophistication and showmanship."
"a violinist who leaves no elements to chance"
"electronics wizard Frank van der Weij"
US premiere of Julia Wolfe's With a blue dress on at the 2013 Bang on a Can Marathon
Frank van der Weij and I were thrilled to give the US premiere of Julia Wolfe's relentless and ravishing 'With a blue dress on' - for live violin/voice, 4 prerecorded violins & 4 prerecorded voices, performed by one player & one sound designer.
The piece was described by The New York Times as "...a gloriously free and wild fiddle tantrum in which virtuosity and mischief-making went hand in hand."
Chris McGovern, in his wonderful blog The Glass, honored me with comparisons to some of my favorite violinists out there:
"Performing the US Premiere of Julia Wolfe’s “With a blue dress on”, violinist Monica Germino basically reminded me of something that combines the homegrown primal music of Iva Bittova with the electro-acoustics of Todd Reynolds or Neil Dufallo. An amazing tour de force of progressive fiddling and paraphrasing."
Rob Deemer listed us as a highlight as well in his blow-by-blow BANG ON A CAN MARATHON 2013 LIVE BLOG on newmusicbox.org:
"...the beautiful solo violin performance of Monica Germino. I’ve seen a fair helping of works for solo instrument and electronics, but Julia Wolfe’s With a blue dress on may be my new favorite…a major work for solo violin (expecting the violinist to sing)…" "Germino was awe-inspiring in her performance of the work and the sound design by Frank van der Weij was just right…definitely one of the highlights of the concert so far."
more about the Marathon: broadwayworld.com
Watch a fragment of the Bang on a Can Marathon performance here!
Dutch Performing Arts events: click here to read more
"As part of the New York River to River Festival, violinist Monica Germino, based in Amsterdam, is coming to New York to perform as part of the Bang on a Can Marathon, in the US premiere of Julia Wolfe’s piece, With a blue dress on. The Bang on a Can Marathon is a new music extravaganza, which has become an annual, not - to - be - missed event in New York and beyond since it was first held in 1987. Together with Dutch sound artist / engineer Frank van der Weij she will also perform and present a workshop at the Austria Cultural Forum New York." 
photo: Julia Wolfe and Monica Germino
