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the world”.
Andrè Jute, Irish Examiner, Dublin
“Sørensen elicits fantastical textures from an array of tuned
percussion. Very impressive indeed”.
Simon Hopkins, New Note
“The conductor Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen kept order in the farmyard of
Witold Lutoslawski`s ferociously difficult Preludes & Fugue for 13 Solo
Strings, a showpiece for the performers”.
Andrè Jute, Irish Examiner, Dublin
“Sørensen delivered this 14-minute tour-the-force (13 Drums) with
stunning virtuosity”.
Ian Fox
“Whether in meditative mode or at his most vigorously energised, Sørensen is a charismatic communicator. His daredevil assault on the Xenakis`s Rebonds brought the audience cheering to its feet”.
Michael Dervan, Irish Times, Dublin
“Sørensen`s performance of 13 Drums depicts just how bold and exciting a chamber music festival can be”. Jackie Keogh, Southern Star, Ireland
“Mention spéciale à le percussionniste Sørensen, toujours très subtile, lourd jamais “.
Franck Ernould, Magazine Keyboards, France
“Sørensen viser lysende komisk talent som djevel og lydskaper. Han er multikunstner, ikke bare på slagverk”.
Fredrik Rütter, Aftenposten, Norway
“Sørensen`s solo from Aperghis`s Conversations lifted the concert onto its highest plane”. Michael Dervan, Irish Times, Dublin
“Iannis Xenakis sitt mesterlige perkusjonsstykke Psappha var i Kjos
Sørensen`s praktfulle framføring en pendling mellom det endelige og
forventningen”.
Per Dahl, Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway
“Xenakis sitt verk Rebonds ble fremført av Kjos Sørensen som
underlivsmusikk med retorisk kraft. Sørensen imponerte sterkt ved å
holde den fysiske og psykiske intensiteten på topp gjennom hele denne velgjørende massasjen for trommehinnene”.
Nils Henrik Asheim, Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway
“Sørensen improviserer frem sugende afrorytmer og skarpslepen brutalitet så vi ikke vet hvor det ene slutter og det andre begynner”.
Yngvild Sørbye, Dagbladet, Norway
“Det ble skapt nattstemning fra myk melankoli til rapsodisk
løssluppenhet, ispedd litt nattorden, raslende fotlenker og
dommedagsdrønn fra Kjos Sørensens perkusjonsarsenal. Kjos Sørensen var likevel nøye med decibelutporsjoneringen og konsentrerte seg i stor grad om nennsom, delikat fargelegging”.
Terje Mosnes, Dagbladet, Norway
“Gjennom musikken til Volans og Stockhausen viste Kjos Sørensen en enorm dynamisk kapasitet som ble ytterligere profilert av den vare nerven i Franco Donatonis komposisjon Omar. Dette ble ikke bare en fysisk og musisk kraftprestasjon av Sørensen. Det ble også et bevis på at kun slagverk på programmet kan bli stor konsert på mange plan. To timer rakk bare aldri å bli kjedelig!”
Ulf Sverresvold, Nordlys, Norway
“Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen trollbandt publikum i to timer!”
John Gustavsen, Nye Musikken, Norway
“Kjos Sørensen oppviser stor formidlingsevne og innlevelse. Han før vist frem sin tekniske begavelse samtidig som han får frem en menneskelig dimensjon”.
Arild R. Andersen, Aftenposten, Norway
Reviews on the album OPEN:
VG: * * * * * *
The solo-percussionist has unlimited possibilities for making sounds and effects. It demands brain, breath(!) and a well-developed coordination to handle everything at the same time. Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen shows us that he´s got what it takes. Iannis Xenakis` primitivism, Rolf Wallin’s explosive outbursts and Åse Hedstrøm´s “Flow”; Everything sounds as Sørensen is unstrained in his musicmaking. The improvisations, the singing and whistling are cunning and well timed. This cd is simply a grand collection of the art of percussion, signed by a performer with a rare strong profile.
Svenska Dagbladet: * * * * *
A world-class percussionist presents himself…
In Iannis Xenakis Rebounds we feel the direction and the ritual presence even more taken care of by Sørensen. He seems to hold the ritual circle continuously, the dramatic scenario is brought forward and the perception of eternity; The drums have been calling us a long time and will continue to do so a long time more, both within and beyond us. Sørensens own improvisations Open I-III are like refreshing sorbets in a multi-course dinner party, as well as increasing the overall temperature of the CD.
IRISH TIMES: * * * *
There´s filigree here (in the aptly-titled Flow and Donatoni´s characteristically fresh take on the vibraphone), and heavy drumming (Rebonds, more circumspect than the live performance, is still enough to make anyone sit up, and Stonewave builds up a fair heat, too), all interlaced with carefully gauged contrasting works.
Smaalenenes Avis: * * * * *
Especially enjoyable is it to listen to Rolf Wallins “Stonewave”, this time in a version for solo-percussion. The listener is caught up in a very special universe of pulsating and driving rhythms. The music on this disc is so full of contrasts, which makes this recording interesting, even after several times of listening through it. “Open” is a true adventure, which can be experienced over and over again.
MusicWeb:
Rolf Wallin´s Stonewave is here given a spectacular solo performance by Kjos Sørensen. His sheer technical bravura is bracing, and he describes in the booklet his sense of fun and mischief in performing the work, right down to Donald Duck impersonations! The whole thing builds up to a thrillingly physical climax and is a real tour de force of percussion technique. This disc explores some of the music playable by a solo percussionist, though Kjos Sørensen is a versatile and imaginative musician, who not only includes improvised work here but sings on two of the tracks, two little pieces by John Cage.
The concluding improvisation Open III is a gently Phrygian piece, featuring the performer whistling in unison with his glockenspiel. In many ways, this CD is an amazing achievement. Kjos Sørensen is a brilliantly gifted performer, but clearly an imaginative and creative one too. A very special issue, continuing BIS´s tradition of opening our minds and our ears.
Percussive Notes:
Hans-Kristian Kjos Sorensen delights in revealing the expressive possibilities found on this solo percussion CD. Sorensen, who is a singer in his own right, here has a wonderful opportunity for indulging his musical imagination in sculpting an expressive vocal line while serving a dual role as his own accompanist. He demonstrates his abilities to effectively manipulate other expressive parameters such as timbre and dynamics, as in his use of the full dynamic range in “Omar” for solo vibraphone, and dynamic and harmonic possibilities the marimba affords in Hedstrom’s “Flow” for solo marimba. The works on this disc give the listener a sample of 20th-century percussion writing that displays a wide range of compositional approaches, with the works of Xenakis and Cage serving as polar extremes.
Allaboutjazz: Valutazione: * * * *
Certamente merita attenzione questo lavoro, cosè denso di spunti per la comprensione delle percussioni e delle composizioni e sperimentazioni proposte da compositori contemporanei. Merita inoltre una particolare nota di lode l’interpretazione di Sørensen, attenta a non sovrastrare i maestri che esegue, ma capace in ogni caso di darci un segno libero e pulito della propria sensibilitè.