AARHUS JAZZ FESTIVAL
July 13 - 20 2024
Halvcirkel (DK) - Photo: Dennis Morton

Photo: Dennis Morton

Halvcirkel (DK)

20:00

140
Pernille Kristiansen and Bettina Marie Mirai Ezaki (vio), Mika Persdotter (viola), Nicole Hogstrand (vc)

Groundbreaking String Quartet

There aren't many bands like Half Circle. A string quartet that, on a foundation of classical training, ventures into new, uncharted territory.

For seven years, the band has innovated, experimented, and challenged the stereotypical image of a classical string quartet. Now, they've blossomed and unfolded into a force that's hard to categorize. Because when it comes to Half Circle, it's neither mainstream nor niche: it's a musical world that feels new and exciting as well as pleasantly familiar.

The band has attracted attention both at home and abroad. In the fall of 2023, the band is set to release a debut full-length album under the 130701 / Fatcat Records label.

Their debut on the British label also marks the start of a new chapter for the up-and-coming quartet. Written collectively at a time when the world is facing many challenges, the album Vida is a kind of antidote to times of war, recession, stress, and climate change.

"The album is a collage of paths that all bring us back to a world where we feel safe, connected, and happy to be alive," says violinist Bettina Marie Ezaki.

Musically, Vida draws inspiration from all of Halvcirkel's past and you can clearly hear the musical influences the group has adopted over time. Even though Halvcirkel seems like an unplaceable fantasy creature, they can't help but have a lot in common with musicians like Terry Riley, Caroline Shaw, Colin Stetson, and Hildur Gudnadóttir. And it's only charming that in their search for personal and honest expression, they reveal a clear preference for the repetitive, minimalist, and improvisational. 

Halvcirkel is a band that – no matter what they throw themselves into – keeps surprising and rethinking itself. As the name suggests (an open system that is not separated from its surroundings), one of the cornerstones of Halvcirkel is collaboration. An impressive array of composers and performers have stepped into the Halvcirkel universe and always come out with an utterly breathtaking artistic result.

Whether you come to a concert with Halvcirkel as a die-hard fan or just a curious culture vulture, you're sure to leave with an experience. The empathy and presence of the three musicians draw you into their semicircle and put you at the center of a whole new type of musical movement. 

In 2020, Halvcirkel received a two-year grant, Den Unge Kunstneriske Elite, from the Danish Arts Foundation for their creative and experimental work.

 


Read more about Halvcirkel


Read more about Halvcirkel


Read more about Halvcirkel


Organizer
Radar
86 76 03 44
Info/Ticket
Unummererede pladser. Alt billetkøb varetages af Radars billetpartner Yourticket. Evt. problemer med billetkøb bedes rettes til dem. Onlinesalg af billetter slutter når dørene åbner kl. 19:00. Såfremt der ikke er udsolgt, kan billetter købes i døren på koncertaftenen. Cover charge 140 DKK

Aarhus Jazz Festival

Godsbanen, Skovgaardsgade 3

DK-8000 Aarhus C