MIGHTY FUN

WILDES HOLZ & SPARK – THE CLASSICAL BAND

Two top-class bands with extraordinary line-ups, united in a get-together of the highest calibre. For several years now, Wildes Holz and Spark have been major names on the German concert scene. Both groups bring a breath of fresh air to the world of the recorder, showing just how versatile the instrument can be.

For more than 25 years, Wildes Holz has countered the cliché of the chocolate-smeared children’s instrument with their mischievous motto “Freedom for the recorder!”. Here, the recorder rocks the stage with virtuosity, playful wit and a mix ranging from Biene Maja and Vivaldi to AC/DC. The trio is a welcome guest on cabaret stages, at renowned festivals and in prestigious concert halls.

Spark combines recorders with the classical piano trio line-up — violin, cello and piano — placing them in a surprisingly new sonic context. The group pitches its tent in an open field between classical music, minimal music and the avant-garde. In 2011 they were awarded the ECHO Klassik, and since then Spark has captivated a steadily growing audience not only in German-speaking countries, but also appeared as a solo ensemble in sold-out venues such as the Barbican Centre with the London Symphony Orchestra, the National Concert Hall Taipei and the Oriental Arts Center Shanghai.

Now the two bands have joined their sound machines to form a supergroup of exceptional class. And when Wildes Holz meets the inventive spirit of Spark, the result is “Mighty Fun”.

The two groups engage in a fiery musical duel that races through every era and genre — from Bach to the Backstreet Boys and back again! At times the three recorders lift off in close-harmony style with “Mr Sandman”, then jazzy tirades à la Charlie Parker follow. Spark sweeps a Baroque concerto off the stage, while Wildes Holz hits the Highway to Hell.

The two ensembles conjure up a sound spectrum that seems to know no bounds: minimal music by Michael Nyman, laid-back Italo swing, well-known classical repertoire, a Chinese pop song from the 1980s, a grooving 1990s medley, hits by The Beatles or The Doors — and, of course, plenty of original pieces, including the Spark evergreen “The Eternal Second” by cellist Victor Plumettaz, or “One Last Goodbye” and “In der Holzklasse” by Wildes Holz double bassist Markus Conrads.

Wildes Holz and Spark, the classical band — a get-together that guarantees surprises galore, rapid-fire sounds, passionate playing, total commitment and top-class entertainment!