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Duo Sonare

"one of the top ensembles of its kind for 19th century music - maybe even the leading one" (Gitarre und Laute) were formed in 1984. They perform on historical 19th century instruments classical-romantic music (Giuliani, Mozart etc) in the authentic sound and qualitity of the former guitar virtuosos, - on modern Spanish concert guitars works of modern composers ranging from Claude Debussy, Astor Piazzolla to rock star Frank Zappa, thus making no difference between art and entertainment; their arrangement for two guitars of Mike Oldfield's Opus One TUBULAR BELLS attracted world-wide attention and is No. 1 of the top-10-list 1996 of WNYC, New York, - major concertos for two guitars and orchestra (Rodrigo, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Oldfield etc).

If the guitar world has parameters, Offermann and Wagner have stretched them to the outermost.

On tours (duo recitals, concerts with orchestra, guitar festivals) in 41 countries throughout the world DUO SONARE have gained a large inter-national audience.

DUO SONARE take part in international juries and have performed master classes in Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Hungaria, Tschechia, Russia,USA (Manhattan School of Music New York, Yale University New Haven, Eastman School of Music Rochester), Singapore, Vietnam, India.

Thomas Offermann teaches at the "Hochschule für Musik und Theater" in Rostock; Jens Wagner at the "Hochschule für Künste" in Bremen.

Since 1996 DUO SONARE have recorded their repertoire with MDG - Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm.

Reviews

Guitar Review, New York: Exceptionally versatile and sophisticated musicians with an encyclopedic knowledge of interpretation and use of nuance. ... Refinement and elegance - not to mention the ability to toss off some of the fastest passage work ever heard on acoustic guitar. The range of material - from classical to jazz, with stopovers in pop-rock and Spanish music - was all performed with conviction and technique which totally served the music. One didn't just enjoy this recital; one left with a wealth of interpretative ideas.

Deutschlandfunk, Cologne: Musikalische Unterhaltung vom Feinsten... begeisternd ist vor allem ihr Spielwitz, ihr Gefühl für die Atmosphäre dieser Musik, für die vielfältigen Farben und kleinsten Nuancen, von zartester Lyrik bis hin zu ironischen Wendungen und temperamentvoll zupackenden Tänzen.

FONO FORUM, Munic: "Golliwog's Cake-Walk" läuft der Interpretation von Bream/Williams den Rang ab... Außer- gewöhnlich: Intim und universell, mit bezauberndem Charme und einer in jedem Filigran packenden Musikalität eingespielt. Das Ergebnis ist eine auratisch und virtuos stimmige perfekte CD, wie man sie nicht alle Monate zu hören bekommt!

Classical Guitar, London: One of the best duo albums that I've heard for a very long time (CD 31111)...This incredible performance estabishes once and for all that their transcription is an original work of art in its own right. This is one of the most remarkable transcriptions to enter the guitar repertoire (CD TUBULAR BELLS)...Fantastic technical equipment, perfect teamwork, good taste, thought-out interpretation, maximum artistic value extracted from given musical material, were displayed with consummate ease... they have placed themselves unquestionably in the front rank of contemporary guitar duos. Look out for these men! What they offer is something very special.

Do try to hear it. A landmark has been achieved (concerts).

Gitarre aktuell, Hamburg: Hier hört man schlicht Musik der ersten Garnitur.

Bremer Nachrichten: Das DUO SONARE spielt Musik in vollendeter Virtuosität...Es war ein Konzert der Extraklasse.

General-Anzeiger Bonn: ... begeisterten ihr Publikum mit einem fast traumwandlerischen Verständnis im Zusammenspiel und einer unerschöpflichen Vielfalt klanglicher Nuancen... überwältigende Demonstration spieltechnischen und musikalischen Könnens... Aushängeschilder deutscher Gitarrenkunst.

The Statesman, New Delhi: Complete tonal coordination combined with utmost delicacy of touch and nuance and imaginative interpretation.

La Presse Tunis: Tant il est vrai que le DUO SONARE à lui seul vaut bien un orchestre.

Les Cahiers de la Guitare et de la Musique, France:

Un moment agréable, plein d'esprit et de dérision, dans une lecture festive sortant de tous les sentiers battus...Thomas Offermann et Jens Wagner sont enthousiasmants!

Osservatorio, Italy: Thomas Offermann e Jens Wagner, che costituiscono il versatile DUO SONARE, hanno riscosso un grande successo.

El Mercurio Santiago de Chile: El dúo alemán Sonare, integrado por Thomas Offermann y Jens Wagner, los que marcaron la diferencia con los demás participantes al usar dos tipos de guitarras, complementándose a la perfección sus do integrantes .

La Crónica, León: Todo lo que se pueda decir del DUO SONARE nos queda corto dada la enorme calidad del conjuncto. Dos guitarras con un sólo corazón... al finalizar la obra de Oldfield el público se puso de pie irrumpiendo en un torrente de aplausos, y la emoción contenida durante casi una hora de interpretación antológica fue como una explosión. En resumen un extraordinario espectáculo musical.

Mike Oldfield Magazin: Von TUBULAR BELLS existieren einige Interpretationen; uneingeschränkt die beste liegt uns nun - 23 Jahre nach Erscheinen des Originals - vor... Bleibt nur zu hoffen, daß weitere Oldfield-Stücke vom DUO SONARE veredelt werden.

Chick Corea: ...congratulate you on a most wonderful CD. I thoroughly enjoyed your renditions. I, of course, especially enjoyed your renditions of my Childrens Songs which I feel were played with so much feeling and beauty.

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