Cellist Anssi Kartunnen has made a beautiful film of Zoë’s new piece for cello and fixed audio “O-lude”, which he premiered at Aldeburgh Festival summer 2022.
Here it is!
Press reviews: “ …. caught Knussen’s free-spirited wit. So, too, did Zoë Martlew’s O-lude, a mini-drama featuring his trademark can of Diet Coke, baton and taped recording of his voice in a rehearsal with another composer recently departed, Harrison Birtwistle.” Guardian
“The most moving of these tributes was the one furthest from Knussen’s own style: Zoë Martlew’s mostly electronic O-lude, based on scraps of Knussen’s own voice recorded in rehearsal, overlaid with what sounded like a scratchy old recording of luminous chords from his 2nd Symphony. For a moment his shade seemed to be with us.” Daily Telegraph
“Fittingly, however, all was eclipsed by a ghostly collage put together by his companion, Zoë Martlew, that incorporated a tape of his voice — still haunting the festival where he inspired so many memorable performances.” The Times