NICO
New Ideas Chamber Orchestra
13 June
Information
AUGUSTA JUSIONYTĖ (violin, concertmaster)
DALIA SIMAŠKAITĖ (violin)
AGATA URSUL (βιολί, βιόλα)
LIUDVIKAS SILICKAS (cello)
AUGUSTINAS SOKALSKI (cello)
VINCAS BAČIUS (double bass)
GEDIMINAS GELGOTAS (founder | artistic director | composer)
It was back in 2006 when the 19-year-old Lithuanian composer Gediminas Gelgotas came up with an idea to find an ensemble that would perform his music and translate his artistic visions into reality. Now, around 15 years later, this embodiment of 'one-artist-vision', called the New Ideas Chamber Orchestra NICO, constantly brings composer's music to the leading classical and contemporary music venues and reaches new and young audiences of classical music with their highly attractive, captivating, and original music performances. The uniqueness of NICO concept is highly determined by Gelgotas' musical language itself, in which the classical music idiom is mixed with light hints and influences of popular music. Composer's vision of integrating minimalistic choreographic details into performances while the musicians play music by heart, using non-traditional string instrument techniques and voice, all of it combined is what creates the exciting concert experiences that are reinventing the borders between experimental, minimal, contemporary art and more popular, mainstream music forms.
Their shows also often incorporate stunning transcriptions of most beloved classical works by Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart, as well as new music of other minimalists such as Riley, Glass, Tavener, Pärt and others. When listening to NICO, you may want to turn inward and meditate, or just get up and dance – the effect is mesmerizing, and the result is inspiring to all ages. NICO is making their appearances at the prestigious concert venues and festivals, including Leipzig Gewandhaus, St Martin-in-the-Fields and Roundhouse in London, Odessa and St Petersburg Philharmonic Halls, Usedomer (Germany), Toulon (France), Odessa Classics (Ukraine), Ventura (USA) music festivals. NICO is also capturing attention of international press – Classic FM radio station with 5.5 million listeners have presented NICO live from their studios, whilst BBC World Service named NICO „truly worth attention” during a 10-minute special on Gelgotas and his ensemble. Besides their appearances across Europe, Asia and the United States NICO have performed for His Holiness Dalai Lama and Pope Francis. Their latest recording session took place at the prestigious Real-World Studios in United Kingdom, with previous albums recorded at Paramount (Los Angeles), Metropolis (London), Peermusic Classical (Hamburg) studios and released by Peermusic Classical. NICO collaborates with such performers as Kristjan Järvi, David Geringas, Roman Patkoló, Mari Samuelsen, Avi Avital, Ksenija Sidorova, Kiril Troussov, Ole Edvard Antonsen among others.
Official media:
https://www.facebook.com/NaujuIdejuKamerinisOrkestras
GEDIMINAS GELGOTAS
Conductor and composer
Music of Lithuanian composer of young generation Gediminas Gelgotas is performed by Kristjan Järvi, David Geringas, Daniel Hope, Lidia Baich, Roman Patkoló, Sergey Nakariakov, amongst others in such concert halls, as Gewandhaus (Leipzig), Konzerthaus (Berlin), Tonhalle (Zurich), Mariinsky Theatre (St. Petersburg), Theatre de Champs Elysees (Paris), programmed in Schleswig-Holstein, Beethovenfest, Kissinger Sommer, Merano, Young Euro Classics, Odessa Classics and other famous festivals, broadcasted and covered by Mezzo TV, Arte TV, BR Klassik, Classic FM, covered by The Violin Channel, The Strad and The Gramophone.
His original works and arrangements are released by Naïve Classique and Deutsche Gramophone labels, scores published by Peermusic – and all that is just a tip of the iceberg of the achievements that he, being only 35 years old, can list today. When Gelgotas was nineteen he founded his ensemble – the New Ideas Chamber Orchestra NICO – with which he performs his music regularly in prestigious festivals and concert halls all over Europe, also in the United States and Asia.
Today critics point to his “breadth of views, depth, freedom, courage and, most importantly, openness” (N. Rogozhina, russculture.ru) as well as his unique and highly attractive musical language, which is based on modern, multi-stylistic influences that combine austere, melodic beauty with a stunning rhythmic drive. His music is also often regarded as captivating for new and younger audiences of classical music.
Official website: www.gedinimasgelgotas.com
