Violinist and SOLI Chamber Ensemble Artistic Director Ertan Torgul said his group specializes in contemporary classical music and has commissioned over 40 works in the group's time together.
They pay musicians to write new classical compositions and then SOLI debuts them in San Antonio.
"All we’re doing really is performing stuff that is new, just like in Beethoven’s day," Torgul said.
Torgul reminds us that even the classics were contemporary at one time.
"We’re doing the same thing for today’s composers," he said.
On Monday, January 13, SOLI performs at Gallery Nord and then Tuesday, January 14, at the Ruth Taylor Recital Hall at Trinity University. Torgul said they’re performing three new commissioned works.
"One is by Anthony Grant at Rice University. Our second piece is by George Cisneros," he said.
That’s George Cisneros of Urban-15.
"George will actually perform with us live so that should be fun," Torgul said. "And our third commission is from Aaron J. Kernis and it is a birthday present that our clarinetist Stephanie Key commissioned for her husband David Mollenauer, our cellist."
This thoughtful musician has a request of San Antonio audiences.
"I would really like to challenge audiences to come and hear something for the first time ever! And be a part of that experience," he said.
- For more on the SOLI Chamber Ensemble visit: www.solichamberensemble.com
