Árni Egilsson (IS/US) – Respectfully
Àrni Egilsson about “Respectfully. A bass players’ perspective”
“I will never forget the incredible feeling I had when, in my first “real” job as the principal double bass player of the (now, sadly, defunct) Philharmonisches Orchester Nordwest in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, I played both Coriolan and Missa Solemnis during my first season there. From an orchestra bass player’s perspective, of all Beethoven’s works, I found these two both mesmerizing and transcending. The brilliance of the writing for my instrument is unsurpassed and sort of opens up your soul, thanks to the magic of Beethoven. “Respectfully”, both in a sombre and a bit light hearted way, depicts my deep admiration for Mr. Beethoven, a young man’s dreams of the future and an old man’s dreams of the past.”
Sheet Music Edition Vol. 1 – available here: SHOP
Respectfully. A bass players’ perspective – in concert:
29. November 2014 – world premiere – Bonner Kunstverein – Susanne Kessel, piano
12. Januar 2015 – WDR “tonart” live-Rundfunksendung – Susanne Kessel, piano
5. Juli 2015 – Redoute, Bonn – Susanne Kessel, piano
1. May 2016 – Studio der Beethovenhalle, Bonn – Susanne Kessel, piano
11. May 2016 – Augustinum, Bad Neuenahr – Susanne Kessel, Klavier
About Árni Egilsson (*1939)
Árni Egilsson has earned an international reputation as a double bass soloist, having performed in his native Iceland and throughout Europe and the United States. He was brought to the United States by the late Sir John Barbirolli to play with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. While there, he established an enduring relationship with Sir Andre Previn, one of Hollywood’s top composers. A versatile instrumentalist, equally comfortable in jazz and classical venues he has recorded a classical solo album with Vladimir Ashkenazy and a jazz album with Ray Brown. Egilsson is highly regarded as a leading session player in the orchestras of the Los Angeles recording studios. He has been a juror in many international competitions such as Edinburgh, Scotland, The International Koussevitzky Double Bass Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia (II and III), The International Society of Basses (USA) and The International Sperger Double Bass Competition in Germany (in 2010 he was also the composer of their compulsory work). Egilsson has taught double bass master classes in many parts of the world including the USA, Germany, Graz (University of Graz), and in Vienna, Austria, Brno (The Janacek Academy), Czech Republic, Seoul, S. Korea (National University of the Arts) as well as London (Guildhall), England and been a Professor of double bass at the California State University, Northridge. In recent years he has become well known as a composer of works for double bass, chamber ensemble and symphony. Website Árni Egilsson