Real Quiet
Real Quiet is a three man band dedicated to an exclusive repertoire of hard- edge acoustic and electric music created by today's leading composers. The three members- percussionist David Cossin, cellist Felix Fan and pianist Andrew Russo- are each highly accomplished soloists and chamber musicians whose careers have been dedicated to the advancement of contemporary music. Since their debut in 2004 performing Annie Gosfield's 'Wild Pitch' in New York City, RQ has appeared in the U.S., Europe and Asia premiering works by numerous composers. Their first commercial recording, 'Tight Sweater', featured the works of Marc Mellits - NPR Pick of the Week, "Real Quiet, a trio that offers a suprisingly wide range of timbres seemingly ideal for this music. (N.Y. Times)".
In 2006, Real Quiet premiered 'WORK', a video installation by Suzanne Bocanegra with music by 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner David Lang.- " 'Work' felt like a significant occasion...It's a piece somehow both vaporously subtle and emotionally powerful- the best kind of artistic effect. (L.A. Times)" A new triple concerto by David Lang, 'PIERCED', was subsequently premiered with the Munich Chamber Orchestra at the 2007 Adevantgarde Festival and has just been recorded for release on Naxos this September.
Real Quiet recently toured Russia performing its own repertoire, as well as arrangements of Manorexia by Jim Thirlwell (Foetus) with Thirlwell on the sampler. They also premiered Gordon Chin's 'Uncertain Skies' at the National Concert Hall in Taiwan and led a 3-concert residency of Steve Reich’s music (attended by the composer) in Upstate New York. A Spring 2008 tour featured the world premiere at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center of ‘Fear and Loathing’ - a new song cycle by Phil Kline based on the writings of Hunter S. Thompson and scored for RQ with the composer on bass, Todd Reynolds on violin, and baritone Wilbur Pauley.
A joint commissioning project by La Jolla Music Society's Summerfest and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival will result in four new works written for Real Quiet between 2007 and 2009. The first work, Marc Neikrug’s ‘Ritual’, premiered this past summer. 2008 will see the premieres of new works by Kaija Saariaho and Huang Ruo, with George Tsontakis slated for 2009.