The percussion ensemble Kroumata has been astounding audiences around the world for over 25 years. The concert halls that they have visited during their tours of over 35 countries include the Lincoln Center in New York, Berliner Philharmonie and Wiener Konzerthaus as well as less conventional venues such as a quarry in Northern Sweden and their own headquarters, a former cinema in central Stockholm.
Many audiences – and buyers of their several BIS recordings – have met Kroumata as soloists with symphony orchestra, others perhaps as an integral part in a performance of modern dance, performing works by composers as diverse as Sofia Gubaidulina, John Cage, Iannis Xenakis, Steve Reich, Toru Takemitsu and Sven David Sandström.
On this disc we meet a different Kroumata, as the ensemble performs some of their favourite encores, ranging from a Bulgarian dance to foxtrot, from the lyricism of Alfvén’s Skogen sover to the sultriness of a tango. Most of the pieces have been composed or arranged by members of Kroumata, and fully exploit all the colours, nuances and spectacular effects of this colourful and spectacular ensemble, supported by guest artists such as baritone Håkan Hagegård and the folk musician Ziya Aytekin, who adds his Turkish flutes to the palette. The multi-channel recording is being released as a hybrid SACD, offering the possibility of enjoying these irresistible pieces in Surround Sound.
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