Grachtenfestival Amsterdam has become a second home for percussionist Konstantyn Napolov. He is an inspired musician, who knows how to surprise his audience with adventurous programming and remarkable alliances. In 2013 he won the Grachtenfestival Conservatorium Concours, as a member of percussion group Davai Perkusion, and this year Konstantyn is one of the nominees for the GrachtenfestivalPrijs 2015. So it goes.
Konstantyn asked his friends of the Aristos Kwartet (formerly known as Aristo Kwartet) to undertake the Expedition of going straight through the repertoire of percussion, string quartet and the combination of these extremes in music. The result is a storytelling program that is interesting to the ear as well as to the eye.
With Starry Night for marimba and string quartet, Steve Martland was inspired by De sterrennacht by Vincent van Gogh, and even more my his personal memories of Africa, dancing and making music under an incredible starry sky. Then Aristos Kwartet invites you to embark the train as passengers for the next journey. While the train is speeding through the scenic landschape, a man tells the story of his life, how he was driven by jealousy, despair, and revenge and killed his own wife. Leos Janá?ek was inspired by the story Kreutzer Sonate by Leo Tolstoj. Nicolas Martynciow composed Tchik, for solo snare drum. In case you doubt the versatility of this instrument, or maybe the versatility of the percussionist, you're in for a surprise.