Hauschka & Dustin O’Halloran September 7, 2008

Hauschka (aka Volker Bertelmann) is pianist and composer from Düsseldorf, Germany. His appearance at the Union Chapel will feature compositions based on his forthcoming album Ferndorf that will be released on the 9th of September on the Brighton based label Fat Cat. Hauschka will be bringing a string quartet along for this one off unique London performance. After his successful US Tour with Mum, the Japanese Tour with Colleen, and not at least the sold out concert at the Spitz with Max Richter (last year) and other concerts all over the world this is the first time having Hauschka presenting his music with other musicians.

The music still circulates around the prepared piano sound, he is known for from the past records, but on the new release there will be improvised pieces with two cellos and arranged repetitive songs with a string quartet based on 2 violinists and two cellists from Düsseldorf. The compositions are telling a story about his connection to the village where he was born and raised as a kid called Ferndorf.

Dustin O'Halloran first began classical training on the instrument at age 7. Six years of lessons were abruptly interrupted when he relocated to live with his father. O'Halloran would not touch the piano again for over a decade. Eventually he did make that re-connection with the piano and has put out two albums of beautiful piano solos for the Bella Union label. His work was featured most recently throughout Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette film.

He says…."I have always felt the closest to the piano in terms of being able to express myself clearly," he explains, there was even a small hesitation to even play these songs for people as it felt so personal, but in the end I think that is what music should be. vulnerable. It's just me and the piano and all that I can give through it."

The 3rd in a series of concert the Arctic Circle have put on this year at the Union Chapel (following the massive success of Colleen and Max Richter events), this was be a truly spell binding evening!

Official Website: http://www.unionchapel.org.uk/whatson/showevent.php/00580.html