michaels reise um die erde by Karlheinz Stockhausen was a major project undertaken by MusikFabrik and La Fura dels Baus in 2007/8 performing throughout Europe at Venice Bienalle, Wiener Festwochen and Festival D’automne. Live recordings from our performances in Paris have now been released on CD by the WERGO/MusikFabrik label.

The world premiere of Close to Shore for contrabass flute and the chamber ensemble NYOSfutures was performed in the sound festival, Aberdeen Art Gallery, on November the 10/11/12. The work was commissioned by Creative Scotland.

Alongside was the UK premiere of Eurydice by Brice Pauset and Fra i testi dedicati alle nubi Salvatore Sciarrino.

“In Aberdeen Art Gallery on Saturday, Close to Shore, by Oliver Searle featured virtuoso flautist Richard Craig on giant contrabass flute backed by NYOS strings – its wide ranging instrumental imaginings were as thrilling to see as to hear.”

The Herald Alan Cooper 11/11/12

INWARD was recently awarded the music prize by ‘We Are The Making’, and also recognised by the Scottish Album of the Year award. An interview with the blog regarding current projects and collaborations can be found here.

“Richard’s individual dedication to his artistic direction, persistence and openness to collaboration in the development of a truly original work, ‘Inward’.

INWARD was also the only classical nomination for Scottish Album of the Year in the inaugural competition organised by the Scottish Music Industry in partnership with Creative Scotland. Both the award and nomination are a significant recognition of my work as well as the composers and musicians who collaborated with me in the making of the disc, they include: John Croft, David Pearce, Karin Hellqvist, Pontus Langendorf and John Hails.

“Richard Craig, Inward (Metier): Mercurial flautist Richard Craig is a leading interpreter of contemporary and avant-garde music, and Inward is the fascinating product of six years’ work. It showcases Craig’s extraordinary – and exploratory – technique”
The Herald 12.4.

 The premiere of Malédictions d’une furie was held in the Turner Gallery, Margate, on the 10th of May as part of the Sounds New Festival. Musicians: Lore Lixenberg as the Furie, Richard Craig (bass and contrabass flute), Robin Michael (Cello), Simon Limbrick (Percussion) and Carl Faia (electronics) and Video by Richard Craig. Live footage and recordings can be found here.

“..In a compelling 45 minutes, Lore Lixenberg recreated virtuoso gasps, arching melismas and vocalisation in the company of the haunting whispering and wailing of Richard Craig’s bass and contrabass flutes..”

Hilary Finch – The Times 13/05/12

[Unity Capsule]  “Craig instills the piece – so often caricatured as a Sisyphean struggle against an unyielding notation – with fearsome confidence, swagger even. Thirty-five years on its challenges may have been parried, absorbed, reflected and dispersed anew, but it speaks now with a commanding and often beautiful authority.”  Tim Rutherford-Johnson The Rambler.
(Cover image courtesy of Howard Lynk)

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