An Unconventional String Quartet
Provocative & evocative, hot chamber music that ignites the imagination. Breaking the boundaries of the classical formation, the V.O. Quartet is renowned for their intimate compositions and spicy performances. Using virtuosic and folkloric string techniques, vocals, on-stage movement and women´s wisdom, their performances are full of humor and energy.
Although classically trained, they count on a wide range of musically enriching experiences having worked separately in contemporary dance, theatre, cabaret and circus. As their entire repertoire has been composed by themselves, these influences are evident in their music and in their playing. Every V.O. concert takes you on a musical journey through different emotions and styles.
V.O. Quartet is an all woman ensemble consisting of Naomi Wedman, Rebecca Macauley, Kirsten Tinkler and Frances Bartlett, all active musicians for more than 10 years. Naomi, violin, is from Canada and is involved in pop and country music. Kirsten is English, sings and plays the violin and has composed music for many theatre projects as well as performing in theatre and cabaret groups. Rebecca is from New Zealand, plays viola, performs in and is the musical director for the successful "Circus Klezmer." Frances is also English and plays the cello. She works with improvisation, composers and performs widely with contemporary dance companies.
V.O. Quartet style is contemporary chamber music with nuances of pop and folk spiced up with world aromas such as Irish, Latin, Gypsy and experimental. The combination creates a beautiful and mysterious musical language full of haunting harmonies and strong melodies. The entire repertoire is written by this exciting combination of four talented women who make sure that every concert is unique and suits the venue. A typical V.O. concert is intimate and chatty with the personalities and humour of the quartet shining through.
V.O. Quartet has been performing throughout Europe for more than 5 years to a wide range of audiences in many types of venues.
Striking entertainment, a magical musical cocktail
Recent performances include:
Concerts als Castells 2010 season, Santa Oliva, Spain
Festa Major and Halloween Concerts 2010, Palau de Santa Eulalia, Spain
Centre Moral, Arenys de Munt, Spain (with Sudansa dance workshops in schools)
Bilborock, Bilbao, Spain (Concierto de las Emociones, with Common Sense Productions)
Circol Maldá, Barcelona, Spain
Sala NASA, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Isole Che Parlano International Music Festival 2009, Sardinia
Festa de Tardor 2007, 2008 and 2009, Barcelona, Spain
The Red Hedgehog, London, England
Electroacoustic Club at The Slaughtered Lamb, London, England
Contra la Fam, concert for World Food Day 2008, Convent Sant Agusti, Barcelona, Spain
Hebden Bridge International Arts Festival 2008, Hebden Bridge, England
Picasso Museum, Barcelona, Spain
Fira de Vila Seca 2008, Spain
Salisbury International Arts Festival 2007, Salisbury, England
Barcelona Grec Festival 2007, (with the theatre piece "Hasta Aqui Puedo Leer" by Pau Miro)
Musics de Pas 2007, Museu Agbar, Cornella, Spain
Apolo 2, Barcelona (with Outsider)
La Trinidad Young Offenders Prison, Barcelona, Spain
Femelek Festival 2007, Convent Sant Agusti, Barcelona, Spain
Sidecar, Barcelona, Spain
Bar Paraigüas, Barcelona, Spain
Electric Bar, Gracia, Barcelona, Spain
V.O. Interview
What does V.O. stand for?
The name V.O.Quartet comes from the Spanish "Versión Original" (Original Version) which you see on advertisements for films shown in their original language. As we are four English speakers (from UK, New Zealand and Canada) living in Barcelona, and our music is original, we thought the name fitted.
What´s so unconventional about V.O.Quartet?
We are willing to go beyond the typical concert format to communicate with our audience. Removing the distance between performer and public is a must. We write our own repertoire, we enjoy dressing up (slightly outrageously), we move around the stage, we sing, we chat and tell stories....we bring the audience to our worlds, and peculiar or ridiculous situations that everyone can relate to form the basis of much of our material.
What would you like to achieve musically?
We look for constant innovation, honest self expression and a unique sound which drives a unique live experience. Our philosophy is based on connecting, between the four of us, with the public, with references, previous experiences, dreams....We are oriented towards our audience, and therefore we explore and celebrate on stage the many possible connections that can occur in a performance. The wide range of aromas, styles and references contained in our pieces allow many different people to find associations and therefore enjoy and feel comfortable with our contemporary compositions.
You said you take the audience on a journey. How and where?
It is a journey that goes to many byways and convoluted paths over varied terrains, ranging from dark places, dreamscapes or impossibly tender moments to raving rhythmic lunacy and out-and-out belly laughs.
V.O. Biographies
Frances Bartlett - Cello
orchestras
Frances recently played for two years with the Academy Orchestra of the Gran Teatro del Liceu, Barcelona. While living in London she played with the London Studio Orchestra, the King´s Chamber Orchestra, and the New London Soloists Orchestra.
recordings
She has recorded for the film "King Arthur" by Hans Zimmer, with the composer Felipe Perez Santiago, with the saxofonist Julian Arguelles, "Umbrian Variations for 8 Cellos" by Bryan Kelly (1st cello) and pop groups Countermine and Misnoma (including writing string arrangements), also music for documentaries, plays and short films.
solo cello, piano/cello duo recitals and chamber music
Frances has given recitals in the Music Festival of Esplugues, Fundacion Tekhnikos (Catalonia, 2007), the Corsham Festival (Wiltshire, 2007) and venues in London. With pianists Luis Parés (Venezuela) and Simon Callaghan (England) in St Martin in the Fields and St James Piccadilly, Festival of St. Lawrence Jewry (London), Keeble College Oxford, The Tippett Centre (Bath) and St. Marks (Salisbury).
collaborations
Frances collaborates, performs and records with the Mexican composer Felipe Perez Santiago in Mal´Akh Ensemble. In 2007 she gave UK premiers of two pieces written by him for solo cello with electronics.
She participates as a soloist, actress and dancer in productions of contemporary dance with Compañía Pendiente with whom she has performed in contemporary dance/arts festivals in St Petersberg, Corsham (England), Portugal, Fabrik International Dance Centre, Pottsdam, (Germany), France, and throughout Spain. Improvisation performances with dancers Guillermo Weikhart, Carmen Weiner and dancers from Erre que Erre
She formed a duo with contemporary dancer Gabriele Reuter in their own show ´Cello Dances´where they have performed in The Jerwood Space London, The Medieval Hall Salisbury, Niederrordorf in Switzerland and they have given premiers of two works by composers Elizabeth Norden and James McWilliam in LSO St Lukes London.
Frances also collaborates with installation artist Manuela Lyle and fine artist Ewan Eason and with composers Elizabeth Norden, James McWillam and Andrew Henley.
education
Frances graduated from the University of Manchester and continued with a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance from Trinity College of Muscic in London. Her teachers include Lluis Claret and Naomi Butterworth and she has attended Johannes Goritzki cello courses. She has also played in masterclasses with Alexander Baillie and Raphael Wallfisch.
Rebecca Macauley - Viola
Education:
Bachelor of Perfomance Viola at Auckland University and Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. International Klezmer Congress, 2006.
Orchestral experience:
Auckland Regional Orchestra, Orquestra Simfonica de Sant Cugat, Orquestra de Castellbisbal, Orquestra de Vilanova i la Geltru, Arcambre chamber orchestra, Barcelona.
projects include:
Klezmer Circus, Circ d’Hivern de Nou Barris 2004. Violinist and musical director. This project remains active, playing in festivals and theatres throughout Europe and as far afield as Japan.
Hop!, balkanic music with a clown twist.
Project “Clown” Providing violin accompaniment to street theatre.
Vilna Kabarett, violinist in ensemble playing yiddish traditional and theatre songs.
Musician and occasional actor in theatre productions The Tempest, Ghetto, Brave New World with the 12x12 Theatre Company.
Strung Out, a string quartet and voice covers band.
Recordings
With Barcelona-based bands Kleanshot, Dj Nettle, Misnoma, Six Fingers, Malou, as well as the Klezmer Circus band Los Vilnetz
Kirsten Tinkler - Violin
Kirsten is a composer, singer and violinist and also plays and sings with the cabaret group “Cowgirls Anonymous.” Apart from composing for the V.O. Quartet, in which she plays violin and sings, she has composed music for cinema and theatre.
2006: Somriure d´elefant. (theatre piece) Dir. Pau Miró, Composed the song and took part in the play as actress and violinist.
Bales i ombres. (theatre piece) Dir. Pau Miró, Teatre Lliure.
2005: Two Minutes of Hate, short film directed by Yussef Razzaque.
Collaboration with Lesya Star (dance), improvised voice and violin for the Nymph Project
2004: Happy Hour. (theatre piece) Dir. Pau Miró. Music composed and played on strings and voice. Collaboration with Sergio Guiomar, electronic music producer.
Nits blanques. (theatre piece) Dir. Carlota Subirós. Musical composition and took part as a singer and violinist.
Reviews:
El Punt, 21/3/04 Kirsten Tinkler´s voice, violin and aesthetic musical counterpoints work perfectly.
El País, 21/3/04 Kirsten Tinkler´s interventions, with or without violin and with her warm voice, add softness and sweetness to this unreal and imaginary atmosphere.
2003: Liliom. (theatre piece) Dir. Carlota Subirós. Music composed and played on violin and keyboard and also voice. Collaboration with the producer Kaotic Club.
Reviews:
La Vanguardia, 01/3/03 ..that violin, which emits other worldly melodies . . . the musical illustrations are excellent
El Periodico, 01/3/03 The musical illustrations are one of the best features of the production.
Avui, 01/3/03 A musical soundscape which contributes decidedly to “tighten the arch” of the production and makes the audience’s imagination fly.
2002: Una habitació a l’Antàrtida. (theatre piece) Dir, Pau Miró. Music composed and interpreted on violin, keyboard and voice. Collaboration with the producer Kaotic Club.
Gays in Barcelona, documentary.
Naomi Wedman, Violin
Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Naomi is classically trained in both violin and piano and has been playing the violin since the age of 5. In Canada, she was a member of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, the University of Western Ontario Symphony Orchestra, and Les Quatres Bois String Quartet. Three months after her arrival in Catalunya in 2002, Naomi travelled to Madrid to appear on Antena3 with the Australian singer-songwriter Dean Manning. She has quickly established her place among local musicians in Barcelona, where she resides, and continues to be in demand as a freelance musician.
Current Projects include:
Collaborating as violinist, back-up vocalist, and song arranger with the Peter Loveday Band. This pop/folk group has played live in Barcelona at a number of venues, including La Pedrera, Sidecar, Heliogabal, Monasterio Sotano, La Sala Castello, the Festes de Poble Sec, and the Festival de Música Independiente de Barcelona.
Fiddle player and back-up vocalist with the well-established Barcelona-based band the Celtic Cowboys. The Cowboys’ performances include private functions, regular appearances at Flann O’Brien’s Irish Pub and the Torcke, and Kitty O’Shea’s Pub.
Luciernaga jazz quartet, performances at private functions and venues in and around Barcelona.
Guest appearance with other groups, which include: Brazzaville, the Ribborn Bar Band, Cowgirls Anonymous, and Misnoma.
In addition to her collaborative work, Naomi gives solo violin performances which mix classical, celtic, and gypsy styles.
Theatre Projects:
Violinist in 12x12’s production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest (2003)
Violinist in Skid Row’s production of Little Shop of Horrors (2004)
Recent Recordings:
Peter Loveday, Moving Along and Sea-Shanties for Landlubbers; Misnoma, Misnoma; Brazzaville, East LA Breeze; Celtic Cowboys, Demo 2006