Jessie & Pals Start Concert Series In Berlin Apt

I went to three concerts last week. Pierre Boulez conducting the Ensemble Modern Wednesday night, at the Berlin Konzerthaus was grand, though it may have been the opulent neo-classical setting, frenzied applause for the superstar conductor, and sekt (the German term for sparkling wine) that had me wooed.

The Kammerensemble's 3.5 hour new music marathon Friday night, held my interest at times, especially when Pamplemousse contributor Robin Hayward took the stage, tuba in hand (arms). He played Luigi Nono's "Post-Praeludium per Donau" for tuba and live electronics with concentrated grace. Catch Hayward November 11, at the Safe-T-Gallery in Brooklyn, and Carnegie Hall, November 10.

But the most extraordinary concert of the week was in a first floor flat on Furbringer Strasse in Kreuzberg, on Thursday. You see, a couple Pamplemousse members have relocated to Berlin for a bit, one of them being cellist Jessie Marino. She, along with composers A. Vincent Raikhel, and Kyle Hillbrand have started a bi-weekly concert series in their home. It's called Zwo. Last week's performance featured works by Salvatore Sciarrino, Scott Wollschleger, and Hillbrand. Jessie got really incredible tones to come out of her cello. It sometimes sounded like an electric guitar, really beautiful in the living room. And Kyle played the cymbal. At once jarring and subtle, he sometimes played in the back hallway. The audience couldn't see him. But we could hear him. Watch some clips from the show below.

Jessie Marino Plays Salvatore Sciarrino's "Ai Limiti Della Notte" (Excerpt)


Jessie Marino & Kyle Hillbrand Play Kyle Hillbrand's "The Midnight Sun" (Excerpt)