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Excerpts of press reviews Chamber music concerts & Symphonic concerts |
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"Alexa's stylish playing compels one to reiterate that Mozart never really hated the flute" Mozart: Quartets The Dominion "Flutist Still and marimbist Gordon were the dazzling featured duo .... an energetic exercise in virtuosity... a beautiful interweaving of solo and duo lines... evoked Greek and celtic music, Morse code and slight hints of jazz...Still and Gordon were inspired as well in realising this difficult and focussed music." Dennis deSantis: Breaking Training (2000) Paul Nauert: Spirit (1998) G Bradley: Bodine Rhapsodia (1999) Mikel Kuehn: Double Labyrinth (1999) 21ST Century Music, writer Mark Alburger "In the last movement the flute undertakes feats of virtuosity in the shrill build up to the pitchless whistle that left no doubt about Still's international stature... the flute grabbed the limelight...." Villa Lobos: Jet Whistle Evening Post "Leader and flautist Alexa Still's talent is literally amazing. Frankly I've never heard the flute played like it before, with grunts, stridency and lyrical beauty flowing with consummate ease. She made the most of her personal elegance too." Still Trio concert Taupo Times "The second half of the concert began with Alexa Still riding in on her motorbike to perform Syrinx, by Debussy. I was left a little incredulous and before she removed her helmet I fully expected it to be either meatloaf or Alessandra Marc on diet pills. Nevertheless, the lyrical strains of her solo flute wafting into the air more than compensated for the carbon monoxide." New Zealand Festival Chamber Players outdoors The Nelson Daily Mail "The two flute quartets, in spite of Mozart's reputed lack of affection for the flute, are charming sociable music: Alexa Still would have quite altered Mozart's view of the instrument." The Evening Post "Alexa Still's impeccable tone quality and the sparkling rhythmic drive to her playing...set the seal on a high quality, extrovert performance." Daily Telegraph "This was the first of the lunchtime concerts where the church was filled to the corners. It was a charming programme... very beautifully played....The piece opened with flute and marimba in such astonishing timbral accord that they seemed to create a single sound. The stillness soon gave way to increasing rhythmic variety and sudden dynamic changes perfectly managed. In the middle movement, the flute copied the Shakuhachi to create a cool and more contemplative mood..." Debussy: Trio Sonata Farr: Kembang Suling (premier) The Evening Post "...the balance between the wind and strings was excellent. The light, breezy nature of the flute quartets was captured by the players with a consistently elegant, delicate style. Alexa Still achieved nice fluctuations of tone, especially in the beautiful slow movement of the Quartet in D... the packed audience showed its appreciation." Mozart: Quartets Otago Daily Times "...sweet sound of Alexa Still, whose reputation as a top flautist was again reinforced with this performance" Martinu: Trio Nelson Daily Mail "...a superb showpiece for Still's rich and warmly projected tone..." Gaubert: Three water pieces The Listener "Ravishing sounds, memorable ideas and economy of gesture were incorporated in a performance of great sensitivity and technical accomplishment... Alexa Still played her part beautifully..." Debussy: Trio Sonata Farr: Kembang Suling (premier) Dominion "For Jonathon Besser's Quintessence, the quartet was joined by flautist Alexa Still. Her warm, clear tone and supple phrasing alternately blended with them, then soared above.. there were some wonderful moments" Music in New Zealand "Quintessence showed off the beautiful playing of guest artist Alexa Still..." Wellington Styles "the subtlety and excitement of the playing captivated the audience... Jonathon Besser's work... added the superb flute-playing of Alexa Still to the quartet's strings." The Evening Post "MUSCIAL GYMNASTICS SPELLBINDING The Still Trio had their Motueka audience spell bound last Tuesday.... A brilliant program of Haydn, Martinu, Crumb, Gaubert and Hamilton. The undoubted highlight was George Crumb's Vox Balaenae..." Motueka Sun "ACCOMPLISHED STILL TRIO... This concert was a winner, much appreciated by those who attended. New Zealand is lucky to have musicians of this calibre resident here." The Daily Post "DEMANDING, ADVENTUROUS CONCERT BY STILL TRIO This (George Crumb Vox Balaenae) is a clever piece of music. Alexa Still opened, singing and playing into the flute. Not a beautiful sound, and it took a while for it to seem more than funny. In fact, with its sliding between notes it reminded me of jazz flutist Herbie Mann huffing and puffing up close to the microphone. What a great flutist Alexa Still is! This was a demanding concert, adventurous programme which delighted some while others found parts of it quite indigestible. For myself, every moment was enjoyment." Marlborough Press "STILL TRIO. This recital earns my award as the year's most refreshing programme. Centrepiece was a riveting performance of Voice of the Whale by George crumb...an innovative programme played to perfection." Christchurch Press "STILL TRIO GAVE A WHALE OF A NIGHT The Still Trio is to be congratulated on its bold programming. From the outset it was obvious we were listening to brilliant musicians who were enjoying performing... expressive flute playing... It (George Crumb Vox Balaenae) was magical. I found it impossible to write so I sat back and allowed the sounds to wash over me. The silence in the theatre was deafening as the audience because involved in the experience. ...the warmth of the applause showed it was appreciated." Southland Times "A capacity audience enjoyed the Still Trio.... Phillipe Gaubert's Three Water Colours sizzled and sparkled. Alexa Still's tone was super-fine. In fact everything she does is informed with charismatic musicianship." Daily News "The Still Trio proved that innovation and wide audience appeal are not contradictions given astute programming... Phillipe Gaubert's Three Water Colours was a superb showpiece for Alexa Still's rich and warmly projected tone" Christchurch Press "Flautist Alexa Still opened the concert with a performance of Stutschewsky's Romance, Cadenza and Finale from 1956... she was able to draw the listener in with some beautifully wrought melodic contours and seamless octave leaps..." Nelson Daily Mail "... The composer was fortunate in having the extraordinary skills and artistry of Alexa Still at his disposal." New Music concert Music in New Zealand "In a class of its own was Martin Lodge's virtuosic sonatina that called upon Alexa Still to switch from flute to piccolo in the third movement... it was a stunning performance." The Evening Post "Alexa Still's flute traced velvety, weightless patterns like clouds of blossom..." New Music Concerts; Ross Carey: Sakura The Evening Post "The blended sweet tones of Alexa Still and cellist James Tennant were enthralling and the performance a highlight." Villa-Lobos: Jet Whistle Nelson Daily Mail "Peter Shreier's artistry was matched by some lovely obligato playing from Alexa Still on recorder..." Dominion Cantata BWV 189 The Dominion "...bewitching effects such as the violinist duet sections with the solo flute- Alexa Still having a sparkling night" Auckland Star "the second half began with an exquisitely nuanced Faun from a host of players, most notably Alexa Still's flute." Debussy: Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune Evening Post "...But in a sensitive performance such as this, it weaves its magic anew and allows us to admire the playing of the small orchestral forces, the superb artistry of flautist Alexa Still and the understanding of Tortelier..." Debussy: Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune The Dominion "Alexa Still's eloquent flute was at the centre of this gem of impressionism, which Tortelier read with true Gallic flair. It is a long while since it has been so sensitively played here." Debussy: Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune Sunday Times "Alexa Still's flute solo, a little way into the fifth movement, compressed volumes of poetry into a few bars." Mahler: Tenth Symphony Music in New Zealand "Alexa Still's haunting flute solo in the quieter middle variations lingers in the memory." Brahms: Fourth symphony Christchurch Press "The orchestra swung, they grooved, they swept and soared through what I assume were Dankworth arrangements of a fair selection of the greatest jazz standards, culminating in the encore, Ellington's 'Take the A-Train", with a brilliant flute solo from Alexa Still. This brought the capacity audience's clapping to a climax..." NZSO BP Summer Pops featuring John and Jackie Dankworth The Christchurch Press "Debussy's Afternoon of a Faune... Alexa Still's softly sensous flute here contrasted with her brilliant edgy persona in Ravels's sumptuous Daphnis et Chloe Suite." City Voice "...with Alexa Still's flute, the subtleties of colouring and form were exquisitely laid out under Wordsworth's guidance." Debussy: Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune Evening Post "the solo flute of Alexa Still gave the last movement a beautifully intense opening..." Brahms: First symphony Capital Times "allowing the soloists room in which to excel- especially flautist Alexa Still" Shostakovich:Fifth Symphony New Zealand Herald "several meltingly beautiful flute solos from Alexa Still.." Shostakovich:Fifth Symphony Capital Times "Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune by Debussy, featured the smooth flute of Alexa Still evoking a mystical world of mythological reverie" The Dominion " The organisers were thrilled to be able to feature Alexa Still... the performance captivated the audience and from numerous comments gave many a new vision of the capability and beauty of this instrument." Tawa News "TRIBUTE TO A DANCING GREAT...To an empty stage, flautist Alexa Still movingly played the Charlatan's theme from Petrouchka" Dominion |
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