SPCO's Liquid Music Series to Welcome Hilary Hahn and Hauschka, 1/12

On Sunday, January 12 at Aria in Minneapolis' Warehouse District, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music series and Schubert Club Mix present acclaimed violinist Hilary Hahn and prepared piano mastermind Hauschka, performing works from their 2012 release Silfra.

Free-spirited and ambitious, Silfra is the product of organic collaboration between two contemporary innovators. With a flawless technique and a knack for razor-sharp performance, the prodigiously talented American violinist Hilary Hahn is known for her probing interpretations, technical brilliance and commitment to new music. Hauschka is the alias of classically trained German pianist and composer Volker Bertelmann, whose work as Hauschka is based upon a playful exploration of the prepared piano, physically altering the instrument to create new sounds. Like Hahn, Hauschka is no stranger to collaboration, whether with formal outfits or acclaimed bands like Calexico and múm.

Hahn and Hauschka's music contains excitement only available to musicians eager to integrate their artistic goals. Based on a series of improvisations, Silfra will be especially engaging when presented live as the two work through their process in front of an audience. Their music skitters, scratches, and soars as Hahn's fluid playing balances the unique timbres that Hauschka draws out of the piano. The stylish warehouse architecture of Aria, the former home of Theater de la Jeune Lune, and a contemporary presentation style will create an informal setting, perfect to absorb Silfra undistracted.

Bertelmann commented, "Silfra and the performances that are based on the record, which also represent a state of mind, are for me always extraordinary and thrilling. To perform this in this exceptional concert series and in Minnesota, where I will perform for the first time, makes me excited, and I hope we can give something back."

Kate Nordstrum, curator of the Liquid Music series, commented, "An important element of Liquid Music is choosing the right venue for each project, ideally without compromise. This is the case in selecting Aria for Hahn/Hauschka, a space neither I nor the SPCO has previously worked in, which is both exciting and a very big undertaking! I've been a follower and admirer of Berlin-based pianist/composer Hauschka for quite some time and his collaboration with Hilary Hahn appealed to me greatly for its daringness and raw beauty. The artists perform within an open framework (scary and exhilarating, both), certain to keep audience members on the edges of their seats. The thrill of not knowing what is around the next corner is a hallmark of Liquid Music performances and, I think, is part of reason people keep coming back for more."

For a deeper look into Hahn and Hauschka's collaboration, read "Unchartered Sounds: Hilary Hahn and Hauschka Performing Silfra Live," an insightful look into the making of the Silfra project and its perfect place within the Liquid Music Series.

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