CARION | the most innovative woodwind quintet

Who are we?

Carion Wind Quintet

The prize-winning Danish-Latvian ensemble brings truly unique and innovative chamber music experience to audiences. CARION fascinates with it’s carefully choreographed and dramatized performances of classical and modern works, making music on stage visible, thus adding a new dimension to traditional concert events.

“No chairs. No music stands, nothing. The way Carion fill the stage with musical and emotional content is something remarkable”- Allgemeine Zeitung

Carion

UPCOMING CONCERTS

1.11.23 USA tour

1.11.2023

7.2.24 Nürnberg, Germany

7.2.2024

8.2.24 Bamberg, Germany

8.2.2024

What we can do

Programs

THE CARNIVAL OF VENICE

This wonderful and expressive program will take you on the journey to La Serenissima – this Adriatic pearl so culturally rich and diverse. You will most definitely recognize the musical landmarks – Vivaldi’s rhythmic drive and energy, Paganini’s mesmerizing virtuosity; Puccini’s and Verdi’s captivating melodies will move you emotionally so that you will want to sing along. Rossini, whose operas saw many premieres in Teatro La Fenice, also cannot be missed to make the list compete…

COPENHAGEN INSPIRATIONS

We’d like to take you on a journey with me a hundred years back. To a time where Copenhagen was a Nordic pearl of culture and architecture, yet heavily inspired by the classicism of Southern Europe. A time when all things good and noble came from Greek mythology, German literature and from the artisans appointed by our Royal court. Yet, something really extraordinary happened when Denmark’s most prominent composer Carl Nielsen called up his friend on the phone and heard wind players rehearsing Mozart…

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NIGHT AT THE THEATER

Enjoy the playful spirit of Carion at it’s best in this delightful one-hour program. All time favorites like Ligeti’s powerful Six Bagatelles are complimented with tuneful stage and film music by Shostakovich – Tahiti Trot, Romance from Gadly, Galop from Limpid Stream and of course the famous Waltz No. 2 from Suite for Variety orchestra. Stravinski’s playful Suite No. 2 will surprise you with theatrical stage interpretations and humor, but nothing will top the mephistophelian virtuosity of Liszt’s Grande Etude de Paganini arranged specially for Carion.

Video

MOZART - VOI CHE SAPETE

NIELSEN - QUINTET OP. 43

SHOSTAKOVICH WALTZ NO. 2

IBERT - TROIS PIECES BREVES, NO. 3

LIGETI - SIX BAGATELLES

LISZT - GRANDES ETUDES DE PAGANINI, NO. 6

“I haven’t heard anybody else do it quite as markedly. It’s really the most pointedly characterized I’ve heard…”

BBC Radio 3
“If everyone approached an anniversary year like Carion and Odradek have here, our listening would be infinitely richer.”

Andrew Mellor, Gramophone
“The players, all secure in technique and beautiful in tone, combine with immaculate attack, balance and tuning, as well as a sense of shared purpose. Performance – 5 stars”

Anthony Burton, BBC Magazine
“By following in Nielsen’s footsteps, the Ensemble Carion themselves leave big shoes to fill. I only wish other ensembles will follow suit.”

Tobias W. Pfleger, Klassik.com
“CARION is very, very good…

One of the most characterful performances of the Nielsen Quintet that I have heard of late.”

Ronald E. Grames - Fanfare Magazine
”These young players are just the best there is and I am honored and indeed very lucky to have been given the chance to play with them.”

Sir James Galway
“Wind quintet Carion’s latest recording is a discographic sensation. Even though you cannot actually see the musicians – their presentation is so vibrant that you will be swept away by their enthusiasm and expression. Highly recommended!”

Tobias W. Pfleger, Klassik.com
“Strong soloists and festive live ensemble!

Our selection for the CD of the week, no question about it.”

Danish Radio P2
“Wind music can be so surprisingly

beautiful and diverse!”

Art Cobbers, klassik-newsletter.de
“Ensemble CARION is creative and unconventional, but they play on highest technical level. I’m absolutely sure that next time CARION gives a “Schauspiel” performance on stage, I’II be sitting in the first row see and hear it.”

Deutschlandradio
“It makes you want for more and irresistibly

invites to a concert.”

Ulrike Henningsen, NDR Kultur
“An empty stage. No chairs. No music stands. Nothing. Though one has to see and hear how Carion fills the stage with most exquisit musical components…”

Birgit Jürgens, Hildesheimer Allgemeine Zeitung