The Gothenburg Combo: David Hansson and Thomas Hansy
Guitar Brisbane is thrilled to present The Gothenburg Combo (David Hansson and Thomas Hansy); one of Sweden's finest and most original contemporary musical acts. Their combination of showmanship, breathtaking ensemble-playing, highly innovative way of using their guitars, warm sense of humour and deeply soulful musical performances have made their concerts unique in today's contemporary music world.
About The Gothenburg Combo
Fifteen years of intense touring has made The Gothenburg Combo's performances amazingly tight and dynamic. Last season they produced "The history of Swedish music" at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, USA, wrote a new opera together with the composer Malin Hülphers and toured with the ”father of minimal music,” the American legend, Terry Riley.
In 2004 The Gothenburg Combo won First Prize and the Audience Prize in ”13eme Concours Internationale de Guitare en Duo” in Montelimar, France - one of the world’s most prestigious guitar competitions. Since then they have toured extensively and conquered the hearts of audiences' and critics alike on numerous tours in Asia, North America, South America and Europe.
The Gothenburg Combo is prominent in the contemporary music scene; collaborating with actors, writers, video artists, light designers, DJs, dancers, and performance artists. The duo is always searching for new artistic expressions.
Their latest CD, Guitarscapes (2014), won the prize for the ”best Experimental album of the year 2014” at the Swedish Independent Music Awards. The album featured a highly original and personal recording of the classic minimal piece "In C" by Terry Riley which attracted the interest and admiration of the composer and resulted in a collaboration and a joint tour together.
The Gothenburg Combo's breakthrough album Soundscapes (2007), featuring minimalist guitar music by Steve Reich, was released when the composer received the Polar Music Prize, in which the duo appeared at the award ceremony. Sketches of the World (2010) received rave reviews and was named the year's most important classic album in Dagens Nyheter.
In 2009 The Gothenburg Combo composed the work "The Seven Continents”, commissioned by the ISCM for the World Music Days Festival in Sweden.
"Like Siamese Twins in ensemble playing they enter new guitaristic territory, with minimalistic music and quasi-electronic sounds on acoustic Guitars." - Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
"Tenderness and delicacy, sensitivity and perfection. But also playfulness and exuberance, virtuosity and sheer joy... The Gothenburg Combo plays classical music with pop appeal, exudes an irresistible life-affirming sense of humor and belong with these qualities to the leading guitar duos of the world." - Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany
"Expressing the spirit of both Jimi Hendrix and Andrés Segovia” - Jönköpings-Posten, Sweden
"A dazzlingly virtuosic and innovative music for the world's most nomadic instruments that create breathtaking crossings between the already known and the never before heard” - Dagens Nyheter, Sweden (on The Gothenburg Combo’s composition "The Seven Continents”)
Prebook Special:
Show your Trybooking pre-paid ticket to Keng (aka Kathy) at Spicy I'm Thai (100m from BrisWest Community Centre), and receive a 10% discount on a wonderful, pre-concert meal. Eat in on the night of the concert only. A great way to start a fabulous evening!
Prebook tickets online*:
$35 - Adult
$30 - Concession (Pensioners and Health Care Card holders only)
$20 - Student (Fulltime tertiary or secondary students over 13)
$95 - Family Concession (2 Adults + 2 Students)
Children 12 and under free
*CutCommon subscribers receive a 20% discount on tickets. Please refer to your subscriber's package for the discount code.
Tickets at the door:
$40 - Adult
$35 - Concession
$25 - Student
Children 12 and under free
We are grateful to the Swedish Arts Council for their financial and logistic support that has made it possible for The Gothenburg Combo to come to Queensland.
