ALEA Ensemble
Encyclopedia
The ALEA Ensemble is a chamber music ensemble founded in Graz
for contemporary music, playing in variable formation including the ALEA Quartet.
and his wife, violinist Sigrid Präsent. The name is derived from the aleatoric composition style, but can also be applied for variable combination of instruments for different works, such as the ALEA Quartet. The ensemble performs contemporary music, frequently in combination with traditional repertory. They played and recorded the second and third string quartet of Iván Erőd
and the second to fourth string quartet of Herbert Blendinger
.
The ALEA ensemble has performed at festivals in Austria, such as "Österreich heute" (Austria today) and "Hörgänge" (Paths of listening/hearing ducts) in the Wiener Konzerthaus, "Judenburger Musiksommer" in Judenburg
, "Carinthischer Sommer" (Carinthian Summer) in Ossiach
and "Styriarte". They have performed internationally at the festival "Nuovi Spazi Musicali" at the Forum Austriaco (Austrian Cultural Forum
) in Rome
, "Musik-Forum München" in Munich
, the "Lutoslawski Festival" in Lublin
and at the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York City
.
Their 2007 CD "Klassik meets Jazz" was reviewed in 2008 by Tim Homfray in "The Strad": "Berndt Luefs At Nightfall and La Carretera are attractive and elegantly played; his Sonntag in der Kleinstadt for violin and vibraphone has Sigrid Präsent enjoying herself. [...] Iván Eröd's solo-violin GeburtstagsPRÄSENT [(a birthday present to Gerhard Präsent)], played with assured simplicity by Sigrid is followed by his Third String Quartet of 2003. This is a powerful and concentrated work, which the ALEA plays with tonal intensity and rhythmic vitality. ... Gerhard Präsent's own Canzona op.50 for violin and cello has a similar expressive economy. Here cellist Christian Peyr joins Sigrid Präsent for a performance particularly notable for the plaintive dialogue of the beautiful third movement Aria."
Their performances have been broadcast by the ORF
and by the Bayerischer Rundfunk
. A concert at the Musik-Forum München, Studio für neue Musik (studio for new music) was played by Sigrid Präsent (violin), Tobias Stosiek (cello) and Rita Melem (piano), and moderated by Gerhard Präsent. The program included piano trio
s of Gerhard Präsent
(Trio intricato), Herbert Blendinger
(Fantasie in G), Graham Waterhouse
(Bei Nacht) and Iván Erőd
(Trio). It was broadcast on 19 August 2011 in the series "Concerto bavarese" (Bavarian concert).
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
for contemporary music, playing in variable formation including the ALEA Quartet.
History
The ensemble was founded in 1988 by composer and conductor Gerhard PräsentGerhard Präsent
Gerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
and his wife, violinist Sigrid Präsent. The name is derived from the aleatoric composition style, but can also be applied for variable combination of instruments for different works, such as the ALEA Quartet. The ensemble performs contemporary music, frequently in combination with traditional repertory. They played and recorded the second and third string quartet of Iván Erőd
Iván Eröd
Iván Erőd, also Iván Eröd , is an Hungarian-Austrian composer and pianist.- Career :Erőd studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music with Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Szabó . He emigrated to Austria in 1956 and studied there at the Vienna Music Academy, with Richard Hauser and Karl Schiske...
and the second to fourth string quartet of Herbert Blendinger
Herbert Blendinger
Herbert Blendinger is an Austrian composer and viola player of German origin.-Professional career:Blendinger studied viola and composition with Willy Horwath and Max Gebhard at the conservatory in Nuremberg, then from 1961 to 1963 at the Musikhochschule München with Georg Schmid and Franz Xaver...
.
The ALEA ensemble has performed at festivals in Austria, such as "Österreich heute" (Austria today) and "Hörgänge" (Paths of listening/hearing ducts) in the Wiener Konzerthaus, "Judenburger Musiksommer" in Judenburg
Judenburg
- People :* Renate Götschl* Egon Haar * Herbert Hufnagl, journalist * Gernot Jurtin* Christian Muthspiel, jazz musician, painter* Kurt Muthspiel, composer * Wolfgang Muthspiel* Christian Pfannberger* Walter Pfrimer* Georg Pichler...
, "Carinthischer Sommer" (Carinthian Summer) in Ossiach
Ossiach
Ossiach is a municipality in the Feldkirchen district in Carinthia, Austria. It is located at the southern shore of Lake Ossiach, on the slope of the small Ossiacher Tauern range within the Nock Mountains at the road between Villach and Feldkirchen...
and "Styriarte". They have performed internationally at the festival "Nuovi Spazi Musicali" at the Forum Austriaco (Austrian Cultural Forum
Austrian Cultural Forum
An Austrian Cultural Forum is an agency of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, whose task consists of the cultural and scientific dialogue with artists and scientists of each particular host country....
) in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, "Musik-Forum München" in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, the "Lutoslawski Festival" in Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
and at the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Their 2007 CD "Klassik meets Jazz" was reviewed in 2008 by Tim Homfray in "The Strad": "Berndt Luefs At Nightfall and La Carretera are attractive and elegantly played; his Sonntag in der Kleinstadt for violin and vibraphone has Sigrid Präsent enjoying herself. [...] Iván Eröd's solo-violin GeburtstagsPRÄSENT [(a birthday present to Gerhard Präsent)], played with assured simplicity by Sigrid is followed by his Third String Quartet of 2003. This is a powerful and concentrated work, which the ALEA plays with tonal intensity and rhythmic vitality. ... Gerhard Präsent's own Canzona op.50 for violin and cello has a similar expressive economy. Here cellist Christian Peyr joins Sigrid Präsent for a performance particularly notable for the plaintive dialogue of the beautiful third movement Aria."
Their performances have been broadcast by the ORF
ORF (broadcaster)
Österreichischer Rundfunk, ORF, is the Austrian national public service broadcaster.Funded from a combination of a television licence fees and revenue from limited on-air advertising, ORF is the dominant player in the Austrian broadcast media...
and by the Bayerischer Rundfunk
Bayerischer Rundfunk
Bayerischer Rundfunk [Bavarian Broadcasting] is the public broadcasting authority for the German Freistaat of Bavaria, with its main offices located in Munich. BR is a member of ARD.- Legal foundation :...
. A concert at the Musik-Forum München, Studio für neue Musik (studio for new music) was played by Sigrid Präsent (violin), Tobias Stosiek (cello) and Rita Melem (piano), and moderated by Gerhard Präsent. The program included piano trio
Piano trio
A piano trio is a group of piano and two other instruments, usually a violin and a cello, or a piece of music written for such a group. It is one of the most common forms found in classical chamber music...
s of Gerhard Präsent
Gerhard Präsent
Gerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
(Trio intricato), Herbert Blendinger
Herbert Blendinger
Herbert Blendinger is an Austrian composer and viola player of German origin.-Professional career:Blendinger studied viola and composition with Willy Horwath and Max Gebhard at the conservatory in Nuremberg, then from 1961 to 1963 at the Musikhochschule München with Georg Schmid and Franz Xaver...
(Fantasie in G), Graham Waterhouse
Graham Waterhouse
Graham Waterhouse is an English composer and a cellist. He is known for chamber music and for unusual scoring, such as Piccolo Quintet, Bright Angel for three bassoons and contrabassoon, Chieftain's Salute for Great Highland Bagpipe and string orchestra, and works for speaking voice and cello,...
(Bei Nacht) and Iván Erőd
Iván Eröd
Iván Erőd, also Iván Eröd , is an Hungarian-Austrian composer and pianist.- Career :Erőd studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music with Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Szabó . He emigrated to Austria in 1956 and studied there at the Vienna Music Academy, with Richard Hauser and Karl Schiske...
(Trio). It was broadcast on 19 August 2011 in the series "Concerto bavarese" (Bavarian concert).
Recordings
- La Tâche ALEA-01-97, music of Iván ErődIván ErödIván Erőd, also Iván Eröd , is an Hungarian-Austrian composer and pianist.- Career :Erőd studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music with Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Szabó . He emigrated to Austria in 1956 and studied there at the Vienna Music Academy, with Richard Hauser and Karl Schiske...
, Gerhard PräsentGerhard PräsentGerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
, Herbert BlendingerHerbert BlendingerHerbert Blendinger is an Austrian composer and viola player of German origin.-Professional career:Blendinger studied viola and composition with Willy Horwath and Max Gebhard at the conservatory in Nuremberg, then from 1961 to 1963 at the Musikhochschule München with Georg Schmid and Franz Xaver...
, Jörg-Martin Willnauer, Mohamed Abdel-FattahMohamed Abdelwahab AbdelfattahMohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah is an Egyptian composer of contemporary classical music and educator. He is a member of Egypt's third generation of classical composers.-Biography:...
, 1997 - Sounds of Wood ALEA-02-99, seven works of Gerhard PräsentGerhard PräsentGerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
- ALEA-Quartett, with Barbara Payer (flute), music of Johann Teibenbacher, Gerhard PräsentGerhard PräsentGerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
, Maximilian Kreuz, Viktor Fortin, Herbert BlendingerHerbert BlendingerHerbert Blendinger is an Austrian composer and viola player of German origin.-Professional career:Blendinger studied viola and composition with Willy Horwath and Max Gebhard at the conservatory in Nuremberg, then from 1961 to 1963 at the Musikhochschule München with Georg Schmid and Franz Xaver...
, Franz Zebinger, Kurt SchwertsikKurt SchwertsikKurt Schwertsik is an Austrian contemporary composer. He is famous for creating the “Third Viennese School” and spreading contemporary classical music....
, 2001 - ...der Welt abhanden gekommen, with Alexander Puhrer (baritone), music of Kurt SchwertsikKurt SchwertsikKurt Schwertsik is an Austrian contemporary composer. He is famous for creating the “Third Viennese School” and spreading contemporary classical music....
, Georg Arányi-Aschner, Daniela Rusch, Iván ErődIván ErödIván Erőd, also Iván Eröd , is an Hungarian-Austrian composer and pianist.- Career :Erőd studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music with Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Szabó . He emigrated to Austria in 1956 and studied there at the Vienna Music Academy, with Richard Hauser and Karl Schiske...
, Gerhard PräsentGerhard PräsentGerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
, Gustav MahlerGustav MahlerGustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
, including an arrangement of Mahler's Rückert-LiederRückert-LiederRückert-Lieder is a song cycle of five Lieder for voice and orchestra or piano by Gustav Mahler, based on poems written by Friedrich Rückert...
for piano quartett by Präsent, 2005 - ALEA-Ensemble, with Christine Kügerl (harp), music of Kurt Anton Hueber, Georg Arányi-Aschner, Viktor Fortin, Iván ErődIván ErödIván Erőd, also Iván Eröd , is an Hungarian-Austrian composer and pianist.- Career :Erőd studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music with Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Szabó . He emigrated to Austria in 1956 and studied there at the Vienna Music Academy, with Richard Hauser and Karl Schiske...
, Franz Zebinger, Gerhard PräsentGerhard PräsentGerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
, Maximilian Kreuz, Hannes Kuegerl, 2007 - Klassik meets Jazz, with Berndt Luef (vibraphone), music of Gerd Noack, Oliver NelsonOliver NelsonOliver Edward Nelson was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger and composer.-Early life and career:...
, Berndt Luef, Iván ErődIván ErödIván Erőd, also Iván Eröd , is an Hungarian-Austrian composer and pianist.- Career :Erőd studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music with Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Szabó . He emigrated to Austria in 1956 and studied there at the Vienna Music Academy, with Richard Hauser and Karl Schiske...
, Hannes Kügerl, Gerhard PräsentGerhard PräsentGerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
among others, 2008 - Back from New York with Rita Melem (piano), music of Herbert BlendingerHerbert BlendingerHerbert Blendinger is an Austrian composer and viola player of German origin.-Professional career:Blendinger studied viola and composition with Willy Horwath and Max Gebhard at the conservatory in Nuremberg, then from 1961 to 1963 at the Musikhochschule München with Georg Schmid and Franz Xaver...
, Anselm Schaufler, Christoph Smola, Gerhard PräsentGerhard PräsentGerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
, Franz Zebinger, Charris Efthimiou, Iván ErődIván ErödIván Erőd, also Iván Eröd , is an Hungarian-Austrian composer and pianist.- Career :Erőd studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music with Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Szabó . He emigrated to Austria in 1956 and studied there at the Vienna Music Academy, with Richard Hauser and Karl Schiske...
, George GershwinGeorge GershwinGeorge Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
/Gerhard Präsent, 2008 - ALEA Live 2009 with Edda König (piano), music of (Iván ErődIván ErödIván Erőd, also Iván Eröd , is an Hungarian-Austrian composer and pianist.- Career :Erőd studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music with Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Szabó . He emigrated to Austria in 1956 and studied there at the Vienna Music Academy, with Richard Hauser and Karl Schiske...
, Viktor Fortin, Rudolf Hinterdorfer, Franz Zebinger, Herbert BlendingerHerbert BlendingerHerbert Blendinger is an Austrian composer and viola player of German origin.-Professional career:Blendinger studied viola and composition with Willy Horwath and Max Gebhard at the conservatory in Nuremberg, then from 1961 to 1963 at the Musikhochschule München with Georg Schmid and Franz Xaver...
, Georg Arányi-Aschner, Gerhard PräsentGerhard PräsentGerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
, 2009 - ALEA String Action, music of Georg Winkler, Henrik Sande, Igmar Jenner, Franz Zebinger, Gerhard PräsentGerhard PräsentGerhard Präsent is an Austrian composer, conductor and academic.-Professional career:Gerhard Präsent studied from 1976 at the Musikhochschule Graz, composition with Iván Erőd and conducting with Milan Horvat. He graduated in 1982 in composition and in 1985 in conducting, in both subjects with...
, Renaud Garcia-FonsRenaud Garcia-FonsRenaud Garcia-Fons is a French double-bass player and composer, notable for his customised 5-stringed bass.-Career:Garcia-Fons' father is the painter Pierre Garcia-Fons, and his family is of Catalonian origin...
, Iván ErődIván ErödIván Erőd, also Iván Eröd , is an Hungarian-Austrian composer and pianist.- Career :Erőd studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music with Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Szabó . He emigrated to Austria in 1956 and studied there at the Vienna Music Academy, with Richard Hauser and Karl Schiske...
, 2011
External links
- ALEA website
- ALEA Quartett music information center austria
- ALEA-Ensemble / ALEA-Quartett Kultur Steiermark
- ALEA-Ensemble / ALEA-Quartett Kulturserver Graz
- “ALEA-Duo” Sigrid Präsent/ Violine, Rita Melem/ Klavier biographies, Musiksalon Erfurt, Graz, 2010