ABOUT KOLSIMCHA
Since their formation in 1986, the unique sound of Kolsimcha has captivated and enthralled the demanding audiences at New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall as well as those at the most renowned jazz, classical and world music festivals on three continents.
Through their original musical language, sheer enthusiasm and virtuosity, they create a concert atmosphere unlike any other group. It is guaranteed to have the listeners cheering on their feet.
Hailed by the LA Times as the “fantastic five”, this incredible ensemble pairs a front line of clarinet and flute with a super tight rhythm section of acoustic bass, drums and piano to create a groundbreaking mix of thrilling jazz improvisations, dazzling symphonic sounds and exotic Mediterranean melodies alternating with poignant ballads and sensuous Eastern European rhythms.
Their music has been described as everything from “a new world music” (The Independent) to “anatomically impossible” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung). As well as appearing at most of the major European venues and festivals, Kolsimcha has provided the music for celebrated inter- national theatre, dance and movie productions.
PRESS REVIEWS
«…those who want to experience the mastery of clarinet playing at its highest level will have to make a pilgrimage into the classical music of the Meyer family, the jazz of Rolf Kühn and Eddie Daniels and Klezmer music of Michael Heitzler… Michael Heitzler is the best Klezmer clarinettist world-wide, Giora Feidmann included…»
(Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)
«… only great experts succeed in very rare cases in making musical experiments appear as if they are not experiments but have grown organically and always been there. A good example of the latter category: the Kol Simcha and the Basle Symphony Orchestra…»
(Basler Zeitung)
«…Kolsimcha, contemporary Klezmer, a band which imparts the pure joy of playing, a superb band!…»
(Die Welt)
«…but Klezmer these days has ambitions. Its chief exponents are a Swiss ensemble called Kolsimcha (Voices of Joy) who have taken the klezmer repertory off the street and into the concert hall. ..what they do with this music is much the same as Piazzola did with tango, or Vaughan Williams with English folksong. They recast and rediscover it…»
(The Independent)
«…contemporary Klezmer while remaining deeply aware of its roots, is equal to assimilating elements of jazz, classic, Mediterranean and oriental music. Kol Simcha accomplishes this virtuoso performance with genius and humour. With their programme - almost entirely their own compositions – they can capture an audience in a way that was formerly credited to mythical storytellers…»
(Frankfurter Rundschau)
«…Its performance at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium on Saturday was an impressive display of virtuosic music-making…»
«…In one lengthy klezmer suite composed by pianist Olivier Truan, the music dipped through classical timbre that were juxtaposed, often with startling suddenness, against highflying improvisations from clarinetist Michael Heitzler…»
(Los Angeles Times)
HIGHLIGHTS
‘SYMPHONIC KLEZMER’ CONCERTS:
Tonkünstlerorchester Niederösterreich, im Musikverein Wien (Goldener Saal)
London Mozart Players, Queen Elizabeth Hall (GB)
Trondheim Strings, Trondheim Chamber Music Festival (N)
Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Prinzregenten Theater (D)
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Knoops Park (D)
NDR Radio-Philharmonie Hannover, Grosser Sendesaal des NDR (D)
Georgisches Kammerorchester Ingolstadt, Festsaal (D)
Saarländisches Staatsorchester, Saarländisches Staatstheater (D)
Bremer Kammerphilharmonie (D)
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Victoria Hall, Genève (CH)
Basler Sinfonieorchester, Expo’02, Biel-Bienne (CH)
QUINTET CONCERTS:
Carnegie Hall, New York (USA)
Goldener Saal des Musikvereins Wien (A)
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam (NL)
Queen Elisabeth Hall London (UK)
Montreux International Jazzfestival (CH)
Berliner Jazzfestival (D)
Villa Giulia , Academia Santa Cecilia Rom (I)
Gasteig München (D)
Rheingau Musik Festival (D)
MDR Musiksommer Euregio Kultur Festival, Osnabrück (D)
Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele Kurt Weill-Tage, Dessau (D)
Kultursommer Nordhessen Theaterhaus Jazztage, Stuttgart(D)
Festival Tibor Varga, Syon (CH)
Opernhaus, Zürich (CH)
Stadttheater, Basel (CH)
Kansas City International Jazzfestival (USA)
Live At The Smithsonian, Washington DC (USA)
Ann Arbor Summer Festival (USA)
Scottsdale International Music Festival (USA)
BBC World Series, Bristol Barbican Hall, London (UK)
Henley Festival, London Sadler’s Wells, London (UK)
Norwich Cathedral (UK)
Killkenny Arts Festival, Ireland (IRL)
Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southhampton (UK)
Forum des Images, Paris (F)
Nancy Jazz Pulsations (F)
Festival Sous Les Pommiers, Coutances (F)
Jazz à l’Ouest, Rennes (F)
Auditorium Maurice Ravel, Lyon (F)
Theatro de le Muse, Ancona (I)
Festivale Pellerossa, Turin (I)
Meraner Musikwochen, Merano (I)
Pamplona Festival (SP)
Festival De Las Tres Culturas, Murcia (SP)
Kule Sanat Hall, Istanbul (TR)
Diligentia Theater, Den Haag (NL)
Jazzfestival Copenhagen (DK)
St. Olav Festival, Trondheim (N)
Värmland Classic Festival, Norrköpping (S)
Jazzfestival Graz (A)
TV:
Harald Schmidt Show (sat 1)
Metropolis (Arte)
3nach9 (Wdr)
Benissimo (SF drs)
GIGA TV (NBC)
Tagesschau (SF drs)
FILM (SOUNDTRACKS):
Jenseits der Stille, Dir. Caroline Link (Music by Niki Reiser)
Gripsholm, Dir. Xavier Koller
DOCUMENTARY:
Truan komponiert
THEATRES:
Ghetto Wilna, Theater Basel (Dir. David Levine)
Das Geisterschiff, Schauspielhaus Basel (Dir. Florentine Klepper)
BALLETS:
MayDay, Theater Basel (Chor. Joachim Schlömer)
Ballett-Abend II, Theater Basel (Chor. Marc Ribaud)
Tevje, Theater Basel (Chor. Richard Wherlock)
AUDIO BOOKS:
'Meine Schwester Sara'
by Ruth Weiss, narrated by Dietmar Schönherr
'Massel und Schlamassel'
by Isaac Bashevis Singer, narrated by Johannes Steck, im uccello Verlag erschien