Ichiko Aoba
with 12 Ensemble
Live at Milton Court, Barbican.
Recorded live during their 2022 concert collaboration at the Barbican, this album is breathtaking in its beauty. The foundation of the record lies in songs from Japanese folk singer Ichiko Aoba's "Windswept Adan", with brand new arrangements for string quintet.
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released March 31, 2023
Ichiko Aoba [vocals, guitar, organ]
Eloisa-Fleur Thom [violin]
Venetia Jollands [violin]
Connie Pharoah [viola]
Max Ruisi [cello]
Toby Hughes [bass]
Death and the Maiden
The 12 Ensemble release their second album Death and the Maiden - a powerful and personal journey through an evolving musical landscape that highlights the unique voice and vision of London's pioneering un-conducted string orchestra.
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With their own arrangement of Schubert’s iconic string quartet at its heart, the record features a brand new commission from newly-appointed ROH Composer in Residence Oliver Leith, alongside a poignant work by Tavener and a tribute to the ensemble’s time in Iceland with a heart-felt arrangement of a song by Sigur Rós.
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released January 31, 2020
Non Voglio Mai Vedere Il, Sole Tramontare
Oliver Leith
from Last Days
Alternative pop sensation Caroline Polachek and 12 Ensemble collaborate for this aria in Oliver Leith's acclaimed debut opera 'Last Days'. Based on the film by Gus vant Sant, the story depicts the final days of character Blake, based on Kurt Cobain.
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Music by Oliver Leith
Libretto by Matt Copson
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released October 7, 2022
Caroline Polachek [vocals]
12 Ensemble
Eloisa-Fleur Thom, Alessandro Ruisi,
Roberto Ruisi, Ellie Consta, Matt Kettle, Meghan Cassidy, Max Ruisi, Sergio Serra, Toby Hughes
Ex:Re
with 12 Ensemble
live at Kings Place, London
Elena Tonra of Daughter resumes her Ex:Re moniker to present a spell-binding reinterpretation of her debut solo album, with 12 Ensemble and composer Josephine Stephenson.
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Recorded live in concert at London's Kings Place in 2019, this unique collaboration heightens the emotion and vulnerability of Elena's heart-breaking songs.
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released February 19, 2021
Elena Tonra [vocals and guitar]
Josephine Stephenson [arranger, Piano and vocals]
12 Ensemble
Eloisa-Fleur Thom, Roberto Ruisi, Venetia Jollands, Yume Fujise,
Alessandro Ruisi, Oliver Cave, Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux, Luba Tunnicliffe, Freya Hicks,
Max Ruisi, Sergio Serra, Gabriel Abad
Visions Illuminées
Mary Bevan
Britten, Faure, Ravel, Chabrier, Duparc
“Bevan and the conductorless 12 Ensemble move as one organism as she glides mesmerisingly over their ebbing and flowing pulse. The heart of the recital is a radiantly searching performance of Britten’s Les illuminations" - BBC Music Magazine
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released March 17, 2023
Resurrection
12 ensemble's debut album 'Resurrection' is a powerful collection of four works for strings that transform the old into the new.
Alongside the premiere recordings of Kate Whitley’s ‘Autumn Songs’ and Bryce Dessner’s ‘Réponse LutosÅ‚awski’, the album features viola soloist Simon Rowland-Jones on Woolrich’s ‘Ulysses Awakes’ and opens with LutosÅ‚awski’s personal and emotional tribute to Bartók, ‘Musique Funèbre’.
This debut release reflects the ensemble’s spirit of bringing a new sense of energy and exploration to established sounds and ideas. It highlights the ensemble’s unique commitment to approaching and exploring music with the depth and sincerity of a chamber group, coupled with the virtuosic individual strengths of all twelve musicians.”
"The 12 Ensemble render the entire programme with fearless resolve. An impressive debut"
Gramophone
"Polished readings... with rapt expressiveness"
Sunday Times
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Released September 14, 2018