Get CLoSer with us this evening

Snap up the last remaining tickets for tonight’s CLoSer – part of the concert series designed to appeal to those who like their live music experiences to be intimate and informal.

We promise performances of the stunningly beautiful and haunting work Night Prayers by Georgian composer Giya Kancheli, as well as the world premiere of Tim Garland’s latest piece Songs to the Night Sky for string orchestra and saxophone with CLoSer favourite, conductor Clark Rundell. You’ll also have the chance to hear a rendition of CLS’ audience choice winner, Schnittke’s Moz-Art à la Haydn.

City of London Sinfonia were able to catch up with the supremely talented saxophonist Tim Garland at none other than Abbey Road Studios! Find out what he is most looking forward to about tonight’s event:

As always tonight’s CLoSer is 80 minutes long with no interval and the bar is open throughout. Please note there is no traditional concert seating. Doors and bar open at 6.45pm.

Adult tickets cost £15 and include one free drink
Limited number of CLS FIVER tickets (£5) available for 16-25 year olds (pre-register at marketingteam@cls.co.uk)

CLoSer: Kancheli & Garland
Wednesday 13 February, 7.30pm (doors/bar open 6.45pm)
Village Underground

Spotlight on… Katona Twins

Our opening concert for the second CLoSer series features Guest Artists the Katona Twins. But who the men involved in this unique duo? Here’s a quick snapshot:

CLoSer guest artists Peter and Zoltan Katona

Name
Peter and Zoltán Katona

Age
44

Nationality
Identical twins Peter and Zoltán were born in Hungary. They are German citizens, but now live in Liverpool in the UK.

Background
Labelled as “the classical world’s best known guitar duo” by the Daily Telegraph, the Katona Twins studied in Budapest, Frankfurt and at the Royal Academy of Music in London. They have given recitals in major concert venues all over the world including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Konzerthaus in Vienna, the Suntory Hall in Tokyo and the Philharmonie in Cologne. The duo perform a wide range of repertoire from classical Bach and Mozart, Spanish and Tango, to more popular music genres including their own arrangements of pop classics!

Breakthrough moment
In 2009, they performed live to half a million people in arenas across Europe as the soloists for Night of the Proms. Inspired by the British Last Night of the Proms, these concerts have become one of the most visited and most attractive musical events in Belgium and in Europe, combining both classical and pop music.

CLoSer performance
Piazzolla – Hommage à Liège The master of Tango, Astor Piazzolla wrote this lyrical double concerto for guitar, bandoneón and strings. Piazzolla’s compositional style incorporated elements from both jazz and classical music to create nuevo tango, distinct from the traditional tango style.

de Falla – El amor brujo Manuel de Falla was one of Spain’s most important musicians in the early 20^th century. Falla rarely composed for the guitar, however he took much inspiration from early Spanish guitar music. El amor brujo was originally composed as a chamber piece and eventually transformed into a ballet. The Katona Twins will be performing their own arrangement of this piece for guitar duo and percussion.

Visit the Katona Twins YouTube channel to find out more.

CLoSer: Stravinsky, Piazzolla, Copland
Wednesday 19 September, 7.30pm
Village Underground, Shoreditch
Tickets: £15 (includes a free drink)
Box Office: spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk | 020 7377 1362 (Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm)

CLoSer Retrospect

If you didn’t make it to last year’s CLoSer then you missed out on three fantastic concerts. Luckily for you, and thanks to the success of our first series, CLoSer is back! We thought we’d take a quick look back at some of the audience highlights from last year.

“I loved the sense of excitement, the bar, the lighting, the chatter and the informal approach of the musicians and conductor.”

“Wonderful programming (incredibly varied), hushed audience, informal atmosphere, excellent musicians & gorgeous setting!”

“Felt every single string, note, and colour.  So intimate, so beautiful, thank you.”

“Think that might have been my favourite concert in a while; got the whole relaxed thing pitched just right”

“Gwilym was mind-blowing. Loved the whole night.”

Described by audience members as the “best classical club experience so far”, we’ve been busy this summer putting together some fantastic programmes and Guest Artists to make sure the next series is equally exciting.

Full details are on the CLS website

Booking is currently open for CLoSer on Wednesday 19 September. You can purchase tickets online via the Spitalfields Music website or over the phone on 020 7377 1362.

Full details of this year’s CLoSer

So, the really important stuff to start with, all this series concerts will take place at Shoreditch’s Village Underground on 19 September, 13 February and 10 April. Tickets are still only £15 (with a free drink thrown in) and if you’re quick you might be able to scoop yourself an Early Bird ticket for £1!

CLoSer special guest artists: the Katona Twins

Wednesday 19 September, 7.30pm
We kick off in September with an American flavoured CLoSer featuring a programme of Stravinsky, Piazzolla and Copland. We’ll be joined by our Principal Conductor Michael Collins, as both conductor for the evening and also soloist for Copland’s Clarinet Concerto. We are also thrilled to be joined Guest Artists the Katona Twins, who will be performing the rhythmic Hommage à Liège, a concerto unusually set for guitar, bandoneón and strings by Astor Piazzolla, as well as El amor brujo by Manuel de Falla.

Wednesday 13 February, 7.30pm
We welcome back a CLoSer favourite, conductor Clark Rundell, and new Guest Artist saxophonist Tim Garland, whose latest new commission we’ll be performing. Our musicians will also perform the stunningly beautiful and haunting work Night Prayers by Giya Kancheli and we’ll be asking YOU, our audience members, to choose which piece the Orchestra open the concert with. Make sure you’re following us on Facebook to take part in our audience choice vote.

Conductor Clark Rundell at April’s CLoSer (James Berry)

And to end the second series… well, we wouldn’t want to give everything away so soon, but the final concert will form part of our Poulenc Festival on Wednesday 10 April!

Tickets can be booked through Spitalfields Music box office online, by phone on 020 7377 1362 or in person on the door.

Tomorrow: CLoSer Retrospect

What is CLoSer?

CLoSer is leading UK orchestra City of London Sinfonia’s popular informal concert series, which takes place at the Village Underground in Shoreditch. This series there are three concerts on 19 September, 13 February and 10 April and all are designed for both the complete beginner and the classical music enthusiast.

So what makes a CLoSer gig special?
The clue’s in the name – these concerts give you a chance to get closer to the music and the musicians. CLoSer concerts are short, informal and intimate. Village Underground is far removed from the traditional concert halls and churches you usually find classical music in. There are no rows of seating nd no stage. Instead we scatter the floor with cushions so that you can relax, get comfy and closer to the music .

What kind of music is performed?
We perform a wide variety of music from Bach to Stravinsky, from jazz to tango, and have a diverse range of Guest Artists at each concert. There are ‘talking’ programme notes throughout the performance, so you don’t need to know anything about the composers, music or performers beforehand.

Is it going to be really formal?
This concert series is designed to appeal to those who like their live music experiences to be intimate and informal and enjoy a glass of wine while listening! There is no traditional concert seating so you can sit on beanbags or stand and there’s no dress code so you can wear whatever you like.

Can I take a drink into the concert?
Yes, of course. The bar opens at 6.45pm and remains open throughout the performance.

How long does the concert last?
Each concert lasts 80 minutes, with no interval.

How much are the tickets?
Tickets for each CLoSer concert are just £15 which includes a free drink from the bar! If you are aged 16-25 years old, whether you are a student or not, you are eligible to sign up for our FIVER scheme which entitles you to tickets for just FIVE POUNDS!We also do Early Bird tickets for just £1. Early Birds are now sold out for September’s concert – you have to get in there fast!