CAFÉ DANUBE - ZRI
Release date: 27th September 2024
Cat ID: NXW76168-2 / Label: Naxos World
Café Danube, the latest album from the captivating quintet ZRI (pronounced Z.R.I.), will be released worldwide on September 27th, 2024.
In Café Danube, ZRI celebrates the famous works of some of the 19th-century's most revered composers, reimagining them with new arrangements and instrumentation. Songs that once echoed down the Danube are reborn with ZRI’s signature Romani twist, leading us on a winding and exhilarating journey from Vienna to Odessa.
Of Europe’s many famous rivers, few could be considered to have had as significant a cultural impact as the Danube. A traditional trade route since ancient times, this majestic waterway has also long served as an artistic artery to the heart of Europe and facilitated the flow of musical ideas and performances to the many countries and cities it passes through.
With a diverse array of instruments, including the clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax, cello, baritone, violin, mandolin, santouri and accordion, ZRI breathes new life into classic compositions. Their vibrant, polished and passionate performances are infused with the band’s irrepressible Romani stylings, adding a unique flavour to these proven musical recipes.
We trace the bristling banks of the Danube as ZRI guides us through pieces by luminaries, including Rossini, Strauss, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, Dvořák, and more. The album’s first single and opening piece, ‘Rondo alla Turca’ by Mozart, will be released on the 30th of August 2024, swiftly followed by the second single – Fritz Kreisler’s‘Liebesleid’, on the 13th of September.
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“A clever and inventive combination of classical, folk, cabaret and popular influences with a Viennese flavour” |
ZRI takes its name from Zum Roten Igel (or To the Red Hedgehog), a legendary Viennese venue popular during the times of Brahms and Schubert. This venue served as both a serious concert hall and a lively gathering place for composers. Born out of a passion for the great classics, ZRI's performances channel the original intensity of these works when they were new and shouting to be heard. “A clever and inventive combination of classical, folk, cabaret and popular influences with a Viennese flavour” – Classical Notes
The group began with an ambitious re-scoring of the Brahms Clarinet Quintet, incorporating accordion and santouri (dulcimer), and featured on their debut album' Brahms and the Gypsy.' This innovative spirit continued with 'Schubert at the Red Hedgehog Tavern,' re-imagining Schubert’s C major quintet and 'Cellar Sessions,' which blends influences from Charlie Chaplin to Bach and Taylor Swift. These performances invite audiences to transcend genre boundaries and fully immerse in the concert experience, inspiring a new appreciation for classical music.
Comprised of five world-class musicians, ZRI's extensive experience with international orchestras, improvisation, and cross-cultural collaborations is a testament to their global reach. They have performed at prestigious festivals like Rosendal in Norway and collaborated with renowned artists such as Simon Crawford-Philips and the Västerås Sinfonietta in Sweden. Their critically acclaimed recordings of the Schubert and Brahms Quintets showcase their innovative approach, making classical music feel radical in today’s interconnected world.
For further information please contact Amelia Zimmatore | amelia@arcmusic.co.uk | +44(0)1342 770478
ARC Music Productions Int Ltd, PO Box 111, East Grinstead, RH19 4FZ, UK | www.arcmusic.co.uk