Calefax is a close-knit ensemble of five reed players united by a shared passion. For 35 years they have been acclaimed in the Netherlands and abroad for their virtuosic playing, brilliant arrangements and innovative stage presentation. They are the inventors of a completely new genre: the reed quintet, providing inspiration to young wind players round the world who follow in their footsteps. Calefax can be defined as a classical ensemble with a pop mentality.
Calefax’s programmes are presented with a spirit of adventure, with a hugely varied repertoire ranging from 1100 to the present. They perform their own arrangements and newly commissioned compositions for the combination of oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bass clarinet and bassoon. Calefax is influenced by world music, jazz and improvisation from their countless international tours and collaborations with scores of musicians, such as pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, singer Nora Fischer, trumpeter Eric Vloeimans, violinist Liza Ferschtman, clarinettist Kinan Azmeh and the Nederlands Kamerkoor. Calefax also regularly joins forces with artists from other disciplines, such as theatre maker Boukje Schweigman and video artist Jaap Drupsteen.
Reed quintets following Calefax’s example have been formed throughout the world. The group strengthens its pioneering role by publishing sheet music of their arrangements under the name Calefax Edition. Calefax pushes the boundaries, creating an inspirational laboratory with its annual PAN-festival: a potpourri of musical exploits, with excursions into other artistic disciplines and a composers’ competition.
Calefax has released 19 CDs under the renowned label PENTATONE, the German MDG label and its own RIOJA Records label. All the recordings have earned critical acclaim from the international press. October 2015 saw the publication of a book on the ensemble’s 30 years of history entitled Calefax and the Kaleidoscope, written by radio presenter Lex Bohlmeijer.
