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Houtaf Khoury, the Lebanese composer, is possibly the most important composer to have emerged from the region over the last thirty years. His compositions all confirm a unique and special voice, one that communicates across nations.
Oliver Butterworth ARAM
Former Professor Trinity Laban London
“Houtaf Khoury is in my opinion one of the most consistent and honest composers of our time. His music reflects his perception of life in an absolutely convincing and harrowing way. Mr. Khoury’s art proves that music matters and is able to influence people's process of thinking and cognition. He is a true master and represents an important aspect of all art: Beauty through the truth.”
Manuel Fischer-Dieskau (Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz / Germany)
His works are always at the same time pleas for a more humane world. And although Khoury with the techniques of the Avant-garde well acquainted, shared with composers such as Shostakovich,
Schnittke, or Sylwestrow the skepticism about material progress and the deep conviction that music always transports a message.
Khoury's message is now heard and understood all over the world whether in Ukraine or Russia or in Germany, whether in Latin America or in Switzerland.
Dr. Preuss, Thorsten
I have had the pleasure not just of rehearsing and performing Houtaf Khoury’s works (sometimes in world premieres), but of working on them with him personally and realizing that he is one of those rare artists these days who really care about each note in his compositions. The complexities of Houtaf’s thoughts and emotions are immediately apparent in his music, but also in how he talks about it and coaxes his performers toward understanding him and his works. The process is fascinating and deeply rewarding.
DIMITRI ASHKENAZY, CLARINET
Gardens of Love for clarinet and strings - its curious mix of sweet and sour harmonies, a long-breathed but oddly elusive clarinet melodic line, and the slowly entwining textures from the string quartet, seems to do exactly what the composer suggests. It is a haunting work.
Marc Rochester
http://www.musicweb-international.com/
I have found fascinating is ‘Das Lied der Seele’ a setting (by Houtaf Khoury) of a German translation by Ursula Assaf-Nowak and Simon Assaf of a text by Khalil Gibran. His setting is quietly sophisticated, though altogether unfussy. It serves the text well, though I find the writing for the piano more memorable than the vocal lines.
Glyn Pursglove
http://www.musicweb-international.com/
le Miroir de l’éternité, œuvre jouée pour la première fois au Liban, du compositeur libanais Houtaf Khoury. Un titre bien ambigu et téméraire pour narrer la fragilité de l’être devant l’infini. Invitation donc à un rêve vaporeux, grave et impalpable où les sonorités émergent comme une obsession « mahlerienne » d’une masse brumeuse qui s’effiloche au gré d’un vent sournois. Pour atteindre l’indicible, la flûte va chercher des sonorités au plus loin de l’imaginaire sans oublier une part de soleil et de poussière bien levantins dans des élans charriant parfois un certain romantisme teinté d’une modernité certes stridente, mais toujours harmonieuse.Mélodies tendres et graves pour une musique à la fragilité d’un miroir aux reflets redoutables et cruellement révélateurs d’une réalité toujours fuyante… Une musique surprenante dans son rythme lent et retenu (la preuve, ces applaudissements inopinés croyant à une fin de narration !) qui affronte ou tente de frôler les précipices de l’éternité…
Edgard Davidian
It is a wonderful achievement, a fantastic recording, and Houtaf's Khoury 'Mirror of Eternity"-new work is a masterpiece. What a joy it is to hear a composition that can speak so clearly to the audience-not a single superfluous detail, and every detail, every shade in the texture is crystal clear to the ear. The music has the simplicity of all great art, and a depth of feeling so often missing in music today. Wissam brings so much to the performance with the beautiful clarity of tone the music demands and develops the music with such subtle colorings.
Dermot Dunne
( Conductor-Ireland)
Houtaf Khoury's Mirror of Eternity is a wonderfully evocative piece that I found to be quite moving in places. it is a work of conviction and beauty, superbly played by Boustany and the Ukrainian orchestra. this disc is well worth hearing for the characterful performance of the Khatchaturian and the imaginative sound world of the Khoury work.
Kenneth Bell – PAN MAGAZINE
MARCH 2006
As a composer myself, contemporary classical music rarely resonates with me. But Houtaf Khoury’s music does it to the full extent.
It is a truth in the saying «When words leave off, music begins.» But to share some associations I get listening to his music I must use words. The experience I get from listening to music is impossible to share.
The first word that comes to my mind is sincerity. The music is transcending and soul searching. Melancholic: Longing and hope combined. The music is idiomatic and the musical form is a sample of eternity. The music speaks both to the soul and mind.
I feel Khoury’s describing titles as «Out of the Void» and «Mirror of Eternity» can be his compositional program.
Dagfinn Koch, Oslo/Norway, June 2022.
Listening to your music has been consistently a great experience. The music is serious, beautifully constructed, and full of emotions and meaning. I also like your instrumentation, which is brave, adventurous, and contemporary often venturing into experimental sonorities. An example in point is your recent String Quintet No2 “ The Lumiere des Morts”.
The title - Light of the dead- in my view is like a lighthouse, guiding and teaching - showing the way from the darknesses and trouble - leading us to the safety of a port and shelter from the storms of our time.
Life in general seems like a composition in a number of parts. The infancy, the youth, the coming of age, l’age d'Or, maturity, and wisdom of old age. Then life’s light turns off and fades into memory just like your favorite photographs of Lebanese sunsets.
“ The light of the Dead” quintet is such a memory. It is a transmission that you, the composer deliver for the living, the survivors, the young and old, all together locked in the same cyclical destination.
Wojciech A Sobczynski
What a huge joy it was for me, to see Houtaf on a visit to Libanon, receiving the first copy of his amazing work "Au delà de L'instant"...
I will never forget the journey through the colors and emotions of this piece. I am truly grateful and honored of receiving Houtafs trust to "bring life" to his piece. Houtafs music is written out of his soul and heart. Thank you!!!
Andrea Bischoff/Oboe/Luzerner Sinfonieorchester
FLUTE SONATA " APRÈS UN RÊVE "
Titre un peu léger et sans doute ironique pour cet opus évoquant les plus lourd cauchemars de la guerre… D’une pesante Marche funèbre au Chant d’amour pour un enfant mort en passant par la Terreur, la narration de Houtaf Khoury est un sombre tableau sonore de la douleur humaine.
EDGARD DAVIDIAN
Le quatuor a cordes de Houtaf khoury "Douleur de l'Instant"- Un instant qui dure une éternité tant la douleur est intense. Un déchirement du cœur contre les vicissitudes de la vie, un cri contre toute injustice. Cette douleur devient libératrice et nous permet d'arccéder à une sérénité libératrice. J'ai beaucoup aimé le dialogue entre les pupitres et la recherche harmonique qui est le fil conducteur de l'œuvre.
Etienne Kupélian , Oboe,Solo LPO
Une oeuvre très expressive, en un seul mouvement, qui en autogénère plusieurs autres, de façon (en apparence) très naturelle. L'écriture pour quatuor est très réussie, et chaque instrument joue une partie riche, et intéressante. Le style est profondément original, entre richesse mélodique, rythmique, harmonique ; mais ce n'est jamais le cérébral qui domine, toujours, et d'abord, l'humain, et ses émotions. Bravo aux interprètes, qui se sont parfaitement approprié cette très belle oeuvre, et nous la restituent avec pudeur et émotion à la fois.
Hélène Guillaut Villette
J'ai dirigé "Miroir d'Eternité" de Houtaf Koury avec l'Orchestre Philharmonique du Qatar et Wissam Boustany, flûte solo, en juin 2009.C'est une expérience exceptionnelle pour un artiste, et un grand honneur que d'interpréter une telle oeuvre. Par sa portée philosophique, ce langage musical fait tomber toutes les frontières, non seulement entre les humains, mais à l'intérieur de nous-mêmes.
C'est l'opportunité d'explorer et de se réconcilier avec la partie la plus Noble de notre être. Chaque note jouée prend un rôle essentiel dans l'existence de la phrase, et l'intensité du discours n'a d'égal que la beauté du silence...Merci pour ce moment de partage....
Evelyne Aiello , Chef d'Orchestre
Paris, France.
From thought, from the elevation of language and expression, from the sobriety of style and the tightness of compositional engineering, and from the vastness of the temporal moment and its kinetic momentum buzzing with confident silence, the (Lebanese) composer Houtaf Khoury comes to a high modern “Arab” musical scene; He comes as a creator, not a follower, and presents an anxious seeker, not an easy-going preacher.
Between composing for solo instruments, for small groups, and the orchestra, and between instrumental and lyrical music, his musical language crystallizes and finds a unique and distinct place for itself, not only in Lebanon but in the vast human and civilized world.
In my opinion, the musical experience of Houtaf Khoury constitutes a vital building block in the edifice of Lebanese classical music, elevating him and Lebanon to the world level.
Wisam Gibran, Composer & Poet
From the darkness and despair that befell our Lebanon and the Arab World, Houtaf Khoury’s original music shines a bright light on the hardship the people face. Furthermore, his profound and deeply-reflective music transcends the borders to remind us all of our common humanity and desperate need for peace and harmony! Houtaf’s music inspires us with its immense beauty, intertwining voices, complex harmonies, and rhythmic evocations! It is an original fusion of the two worlds: old and new!
Salam Murtada , pianist and composer
Après un reve is an overwhelmingly dark piece, speaking without compromise of the disillusionment that comes after the euphoria of misplaced hopes and dreams, which is the story of Lebanon, the Middle East and beyond enduring so much injustice and violence – with no end in sight. It is an attempt to look truth straight in the eye…News coverage of countless wars all too often focuses on narrow and filtered perspectives, driven by local propaganda. Political, religious and economic injustices are never being convincingly addressed… as for the pain and suffering that are left behind – they are virtually ignored. The wordless sounds of this Sonata reveal the stark reality of death and loss, whoever the victor or vanquished are. The middle movement features a heartbreaking lament titled “Song for a Dead Child”. How can such senseless and tragic loss ever be justified?
Wissam Boustany, flute player, and composer
Having first heard Houtaf Khoury’s music on radio host Marvin Rosen’s Classical Discoveries program, I immediately became an avid fan of his work, going on to listen to whatever else I could find by him. His music is packed with raw emotional power while at the same time uplifting, creating that inner sense of spaciousness and timelessness that only music, foremost among the arts, can convey. As events grow increasingly dangerous for so many of the earth’s inhabitants, it is music like this that we need to provide a sense of hope and serve as a reminder of our potential for good.
Stanley Grill, Composer
Sublime composition pour la clarinette, qui a acquis les lettres de noblesse avec Mozart,Weber et maintenant avec Houtaf Khoury. La ligne melodique très pure en constante ascension, puis en continuité vers les graves,tout l'art d'écrire pour un instrument à vent est là. Le grand compositeur Libanais nous montre ici sa facilité d'écrire aussi bien pour la clarinette que pour la flûte traversière , dans le Mirror of Eternity, sa parfaite connaissance de la technique de ces instruments, que ça soit le "flaterzunge",double coup de langue,ou tout simplement la tenue de notes longues en apesanteur, Dimitri Ashkenazy,virtuose de la clarinette,sert parfaitement l'oeuvre avec une grande maestria.Une fois de plus Houtaf Khoury nous montre qu'il est un grand compositeur qui SUBLIME la MUSIQUE !!
Liliana Novak , Professeur de la flûte traversière et du piano at emfa
Piano Sonata No.3, ‘Pour un instant perdu, Khoury is nevertheless optimistic that the power of art can hold a people together and unite them in a way that politics fails to do and that “artists can change a great deal”; I’ll raise a glass to that! Though the piano sonata is an uncompromising listen, it is very well worth the effort.
Steve Arloff
http://www.musicweb-international.com/
Wonderful work! All these 18 minutes fly by in one breath, which speaks of outstanding skill! And then it's all very deep in meaning and musically, which is rare today! And beautifully - for me, for example, aesthetics always matter. I listened with great pleasure and enjoyed it very much! Congratulations on such a wonderful creative achievement!
Yuri Kasparov, composer
The sonata, which is subtitled Pour un Instant perdu (For a lost moment) falls into three movements. The language is of our times, mixing a sort of Middle Eastern modality with atonality and intense chromaticisms. In the process, it uses textures and techniques which are startling and bold.
Gary Higginson
http://www.musicweb-international.com/
It is delightful to find a modern composer who is willing to write music that is both approachable and attractive at first hearing. I look forward to making his further acquaintance. Khoury’s Mirror of Eternity comes very near indeed.
Paul Corfield, Godfrey
musicweb-international.com
Khoury’s Mirror of Eternity makes a strong, atmospheric impression!... a very interesting and compelling work
Daniel Coombs, audaud.com
For me, one of the highlights of the disc is the opening movement of Houtaf Khoury’s Lebanese-accented Après un Rêve. The piece begins with a dark funeral march which is made all the more atmospheric through the use of extended techniques for both the piano and the flute. The work’s political message deals with the problems in the Middle East. This is a dramatic and highly engaging recording, which leaves its mark on the listener.
Carla Rees
Mirror of Eternity is a premiere recording, making this a must-have possession for all lovers of recent flute music and of Wissam's great musicality.
ARTHUR FRANCIS
Ce mouvement de votre quatuor est d'une rare intensité, à l'écoute on se trouve suspendu dans un espace-temps entre stupeur et frissons. Les cordes offrent un univers autour du piano dans une trajectoire de dialogue et en même temps on reste figés par cette description d'un état intérieur qui cherche et ne sait finalement vers où se diriger... si ce n'est vers une reconstruction nécessaire et salvatrice. Bravo Houtaf Khoury d'être parvenu à nous immerger dans cette réflexion grâce à votre musique.
Bruno Belthoise
Совершенно особой остроты переживания, открытие новых внутренних ощущений, состояний, гармоний, чувств и эмоций - в этих словах лишь небольшая часть удивительного мира музыки Гутафа Хури. Я погрузился в этот мир несколько лет назад, благодаря квинтету для кларнета и струнных «Сады любви». Каждый раз исполняя эту музыку я нахожу поистине безграничное количество красок и образов!! Благодарен судьбе за знакомство с этим уникальным композитором и человеком!!
Igor Fedorov , Clarinet
اللغة الموسيقيّة في السوناتا الثالثة لهتاف خوري هي لغة شخصيّة، لا لغةُ أمّةٍ، لكنها تنفذ الى النّفس، كلّ نفسٍ، لتشكّل حاضرًا زمنيًّا مُعلّقًا لا يتوسّل طُمأنينةً ولا سلامًا، بل هي لغة تسعى مجازفةً في مخاطر البحث عن ذاتها وسط عالمٍ فقد خواصَه الآمنة. ي تقاطعٍ مواربٍ مع عبقرية المؤلف الموسيقي الإيطالي Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti، قليلة هي النغمات في أنسجة هُتاف خوري الموسيقيّة، مُقلّة في تأنقها وتظاهرها، تُفصح بخجل عن مكنون عميقٍ شخصيّ لا يدّعي بطولاتٍ زائفة، بل يروي قصة الذات الواحدة في تيهها وتشظيها وتلذذها بالألم الذي يُنضج ويصقل.
وسام جبران
من الفكر، ومن رفعة اللغة والتعبير، ومن رصانة الأسلوب وإحكام الهندسة التأليفيّة، ومن سِعة اللحظة الزمنية وزخمها الحركيّ المُضجّ بصمتِ الواثق، يأتي المؤلّف الموسيقيّ (اللبناني) هُتاف خوري إلى مشهدٍ موسيقيٍّ "عربيٍّ" حديثٍ رفيع؛ يأتي مُبدعًا لا تابعًا، ويُقدم باحثًا قلقًا، لا واعظًا مُستسهلًا.
بين الكتابة للآلات المنفردة، والكتابة للمجموعات الصغيرة، والأوركسترا، وبين الموسيقى الآليّة الصامتة والموسيقى الغنائية، تتبلور لغته الموسيقية وتجد لنفسها مكانة خاصّة ومتميزة، لا في لبنان وحسب، بل في العالم الإنساني والحضاري الواسع.
برأيي، تشكّل تجربة هتاف خوري الموسيقية لبنةً هامة في صرح الموسيقى الكلاسيكية اللبنانية، والتي ترقى به وبلبنان إلى مرتبة العالمية
وسام جبران
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