Chris Thile and The Knights charm Zankel Hall

By David Wolfson, 27 October 2023

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“part solo oratorio, part confessional stand-up comedy act, part virtuoso showcase”

Reviewed at Carnegie Hall: Zankel, New York City on 26 October 2023

Bach, Double Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV1043 (transcr. Chris Thile)

Shaw, Is a rose (And so)

Stewart, Toward America (Symphonic Rhapsody on Dvořák's String Quartet no. 12 in F Major, Op.96)

Jacobsen, Sheriff's Freud

Thile, ATTENTION! (New York City première)

Claire Coffee, Director

Chris Thile, Mandolin, Vocals

Colin Jacobsen, Violin

Eric Jacobsen, Conductor

The Knights

The Knights on the eve of war at Carnegie Hall

Kurt Gottschalk, 29th February

An evening on the outskirts of war treat Ravel, Brecht and Weill, Bob Dylan and Chico Buarque and a Du Yun premiere with spirit and revelry.

***11

The Knights and Edgar Meyer do not disappoint at 92nd Street Y

David Wolfson, 30th April

The Knights consistently put on some of the most interesting classical concerts in New York. Friday night’s offering at the 92nd Street Y was no exception.

****1

The Knights open 92nd St Y residency with a transcendent Lark

David Wolfson, 11th December

A peripatetic program from The Knights spanning three continents and nearly two centuries, played with an appealing immediacy.

****1

A satisfying “Pocket” Beethoven in a Brooklyn cemetery

David Wolfson, 25th June

Death of Classical’s presentation of Gil Shaham and The Knights playing a “Pocket Edition” of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto at Green-Wood Cemetery strove for a festive feel, and did admirably at fulfilling that promise

****1

A night of light entertainment with the Knights at Carnegie Hall

Kurt Gottschalk, 3rd April

With an old swing tune, a retrofitted Ligeti piece, a Syrian wedding and a Vivaldi sinfonia, the Knights mixed old and new without quite blending the two.

***11

Baroque and minimalism juxtaposed in Glass Handel

Edward Sava-Segal, 26th November

Costanzo supposed to be the unifying factor of the performance, but he wasn’t always able to surpass the numerous distractions.

***11

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David Wolfson

David Wolfson holds a PhD in composition from Rutgers University, and has taught at Rutgers University, Montclair State University and Hunter College. He is enjoying an eclectic career, having composed opera, musical theatre, touring children’s musicals, and incidental music for plays; choral music, band music, orchestral music, chamber music, art songs, and music for solo piano; comedy songs, cabaret songs and one memorable score for an amusement park big-headed-costumed-character show. You can find more information here.