UK premiere of MUTED at hcmf//
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival
info: performance at 14.00
info: performance at 16.00
venue: Huddersfield Town Hall; Huddersfield, UK
Newsflash: US PREMIERE of MUTED received rave reviews
"...'Muted' may be the quietest piece ever written for violin, but it was riveting in this intimately powerful performance." The New York Times
—Anthony Tommasini, CRITIC’S NOTEBOOK, Oct. 9, 2018
Top of the list: MUTED took first place in The New York Times
6 Classical Music Concerts to See in N.Y.C. This Weekend
More from The New York Times:
The violinist Monica Germino in "Muted," presented by the Philharmonic at National Sawdust in Brooklyn.
Credit Hiroyuki Ito for The New York Times
"...the impressive and courageous violinist Monica Germino gave the American premiere of “Muted,” a 40-minute, musical-theatrical work written for her by four composers: Michael Gordon, David Lang, Julia Wolfe, and Louis Andriessen. Ms. Germino was a champion of contemporary music, including experimental works with percussion and electronics, when, a few years ago, she was diagnosed with a hearing condition that rendered her extremely sensitive to sound. She must avoid exposure to high volume of any kind. 'Muted' was the response of four composer colleagues. The piece involves ..." READ MORE
The Wall Street Journal - Philharmonic Dials Down Music to a ‘Whisper’
—Charles Passy. Oct. 6, 2018
A violinist with a sensitivity to sound will perform ‘Muted,’ a special, quieter piece for audiences in Brooklyn
Violinist Monica Germino performs on a frame violin, which is quieter than a traditional violin, at New York’s Lincoln Center.
Photo: Peter Foley for The Wall Street Journal
A caveat: the audio in the video segment is louder than in performance
"The composers involved explain that “Muted” isn’t necessarily difficult for audiences to hear. [Michael] Gordon said concertgoers just need to pay closer attention. He likens it to stepping into a dimly lit room and adjusting your eyes until you can see clearly once again..." READ MORE
Broadwayworld.com announcements here and here
New York Philharmonic press release
Rave review for RACHE
"It makes one's blood run cold," wrote Marc van der Heijde about the premiere of RACHE in his blog for the Operadagen Rotterdam. "It's clear that the soloists-ensemble ELECTRA provided the composer [Boudewijn Tarenskeen] with extra inspiration. Michaela Riener, Susanna Borsch, Saskia Lankhoorn and Monica Germino are multi-talents, each convincing to one and all as singers, actresses and instrumentalists."
"Elektra (with the gorgeous voice of Riener) killed her mother with the same axe that killed Elektra's father...when she in her lust for revenge finally slashes through the head of the drum...provides a new and powerful image of the classical drama..."
"At first, Marianne Bachmeier (Borsch) speaks through her instrument, the recorder...She wants to tell a coherent story but she makes her flute stutter, shout, and squeal...when she finally speaks, it is with the voice of a cold-blooded killer..."
"For the Biblical Judith, Lankhoorn portrays a seductress...her soft, husky, whispering voice...with texts surrounded by sounds from an old synthesizer...the increasing coldness in the music makes you slowly open your eyes..."
"Germino uses the violin as the sword with which the bride from Tarentino's "Kill Bill" killed a woman...the attack of the bow on the strings keeps you on the edge of your seat...Germino's appearance is every bit as intense as that of Uma Thurman: feline and on the cutting edge."
Read more (in Dutch)
photo: Anne Reinke
CLASSICALITE interviews Monica Germino
News, Commentary on Classical Music, Jazz, Theater, Dance & More
EXCLUSIVE: Monica Germino on New England Conservatory, 'RACHE' Murder Premiere and Why She's Finally Ready to Play Michael Gordon's ‘INDUSTRY'
-May 27, 2015 | Lisa Helfer Elghazi
photo of ELECTRA by Anne Reinke
MONICA GERMINO FEATURED IN STRINGS MAGAZINE
Strings Magazine: "5 Minutes With..." Monica Germino
MONICA GERMINO FEATURED IN SEPTEMBER 2014 EDITION OF STRINGS MAGAZINE
Behind the scenes: Monica talks about her work with sound designer Frank van der Weij, La Girò, and the concerts in the Washington, D.C. area Festival.
"Whether she was playing the violin, electric violin, adapted violin, whispering, talking, or singing, Germino conveyed her passion with tour de force virtuosity and burning vulnerability."
"Violinist Monica Germino put her stamp on the Andriessen at 75 festival in and around Washington, DC, earlier this year with a violin concerto named after Vivaldi’s muse... and a violin recital in a charged environment of electronics, art installations, and images with punk-rock bassist/ turned-sound-designer Frank van der Weij. Armed with a Joannes Baptista Ceruti (Cremona, 1802), on permanent loan from the Elise Mathilde Foundation, and a custom-made electric “violectra,” the Amsterdam-based American/Dutch musician played a major role..." READ MORE
—Laurence Vittes
Subscribers can click here to read the digital edition.
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"
DVD RELEASE
DVD RELEASE! Robert Zuidam's BOSCH REQUIEM at the NOVEMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Watch online: NTR (Dutch National Television)
Watch clip: Agnus Dei
BOSCH REQUIEM 2013: Order the DVD here
info: Bosch500.nl
PRESS ABOUT ROB ZUIDAM's BOSCH REQUIEM:
NRC Handelsblad (NL):
by Frits van der Waa
-
"The Dies Irae was a stunning rock solo by electric violinist Monica Germino..."
De Volkskrant (NL):
"...as if Jimmy Page or another past guitar God appeared..."
Muziek van Nu (NL)
"...violinist Monica Germino embraced the role of the Grim Reaper...together with her lacerating electric violin, she gave a demonic impression of the Day of Vengeance."
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
UK press for plugged & unplugged
Monica Germino's newest solo show plugged & unplugged received rave reviews in the UK press.
Her virtuosity was exhilarating...American-born, Netherlands-based, she is a young, striking presence whose recital was an integrated mixed-media event."
The Sunday Times (UK)
www.entertainment.timesonline.co.uk
...Huddersfield's real stars are its performers, as further demonstrated by the dazzling violinist Monica Germino...
The Observer (UK)
www.guardian.co.uk
Monica Germino, a vividly personable player on the electric and normal violin, works with a sound engineer to transform her violin at one moment into a colossally deep double bass, the next into a wailing electric guitar...
The Daily Telegraph (UK)
www.telegraph.co.uk
(In) the rest of her clever, enjoyable programme (plugged & unplugged), Bach shook hands with gutsy display pieces by Louis Andriessen and Heiner Goebbels and the curdled harmonies and screeches of Michael Gordon’s Industry.
The Times (UK)
www.timesonline.co.uk
