]]> http://tolgakashif.com/news/2010/11/original-band-members-endorse-suite/feed/ 0 http://tolgakashif.com/news/2010/10/original-members-endorse-the-genesis-suite/ http://tolgakashif.com/news/2010/10/original-members-endorse-the-genesis-suite/#comments Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:01:04 +0000 russgrooms http://tolgakashif.com/?p=602 Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford: “We were very pleased and flattered when Tolga Kashif approached us with the idea of him adapting and arranging some of the Genesis compositions for a classical orchestral recording and it is clear that he has taken much care and time over these works. Fellow band member Steve Hackett added, “It’s great that there are so many different interpretations of the Genesis material, which survives full orchestral dress, jazz dress and numerous tribute bands. Tolga Kashif has done a fine job crafting a series of suites loosely based on Genesis’ work from the early days to the 1990s.

Following its premiere at the Barbican Centre in London on the 11th Oct 2010, the Genesis Suite has been embraced by classical aficionados and Genesis fans alike. MusicWebInternational’s reviewer called the work a “lavishly enjoyable and sentimental extravaganza”, whilst TheClassicalReview found it “in the luxury class”. A fan on the online Genesis forum Turn it on Again raved, “terrific … different and interesting, it wasn’t just Genesis played on other instruments. Sometimes there is nothing worse than “classic rock”, violins, etc. with a bloody drum kit bashing away behind. They gave it the full classical arrangement”.

Once again, thank you to everyone for their support and I hope to see you all soon

Tolga

I’ve spent the last six weeks with some incredibly talented musicians and am so pleased with the result. Starting with recording four vocal soloists, I then spent a few days at Abbey Road studio 1 recording the London Symphony Orchestra. It really was a pleasure to work with such a responsive orchestra, knowing that each individual player was one of the best in their field.

The next step was to record London Voices at Angel Studios. They were another group of fantastic musicians to work with. You can view a short video of me conducting the choir on my ‘Videos’ page of this website. It’s a lot more than just waving a baton! Using facial expressions and body language is an important part of conveying the emotions you want the choir to produce in their singing.

After recording the choir I then spent a week with my engineer, editing and mixing the tracks before heading back into the studio to record the instrumental soloists.

Carmine Lauri, co-leader of the London Symphony Orchestra, played the violin solo part first. Carmine started playing the violin at the age of four later studying with Mario Bisazza. He was awarded the Associated Board scholarship to further his studies in London at the Royal Academy of Music with Jean Harvey, Maurice Hasson and other distinguished artists including Anne Sophie Mutter, Ida Haendel, Zakhar Bron and Gerald Poulet. Carmine has performed extensively and on a number of occasions he was selected to perform as a soloist in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II and other Heads of State. As a representative of the London Symphony Orchestra, Carmine leads and performs regularly with the World Orchestra for Peace under Valery Gergiev. He has two solo compact disc recordings to his credit: Bravura (1994) and Violin Extravaganza (2004).

The next day, I worked with Caroline Dale, an extraordinary cello player. Caroline shot to fame as the cellist dauntingly requested to “provide” the fingers of Jacqueline du Pré for the film Hilary and Jackie, and then reached an even wider audience when her performance of Handel’s Sarabande from the D-minor harpsichord suite was used in an advert for Levi’s Jeans.

The final player to be recorded was Freddy Kempf, who had previously played at the LSO recording session at Abbey Road.

I get on with Freddy incredibly well and he’s such a beautiful player. He is one of today’s most successful young artists performing to sell-out audiences all over the world. Freddy began piano lessons at the young age of four and came to national prominence in 1992 when he won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition following a memorable performance of Rachmaninov Paganini Variations. Many international debuts followed including engagements at the Munich Gasteig, the Alter Oper in Frankfurt, Berlin’s Philharmonie & Konzerthaus, Chicago’s Grant Park festival, Vienna’s Musikverein & Konzerthaus, and the Concertgebouw amongst others. Freddy has worked with the world’s leading orchestras and acclaimed conductors. A committed recitalist, Freddy has built up dedicated audiences world-wide appearing at London’s Barbican Centre and Cadogan Hall, Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, Munich’s Herkulessaal, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, Milan Conservatorio’s Sala Verdi, Moscow’s Great Hall of the Conservatoire and St. Petersburg’s Philharmonic Hall.

The next week or so will be spent putting the final touches to the album and then it will be ready for its release on the 11th October 2010!