Nina Polaschegg writes: "Improvisation and composition as forcefield. The conundrum remains: how can one combine these two approaches to musical forming without one or the...

Nina Polaschegg writes: "Improvisation and composition as forcefield. The conundrum remains: how can one combine these two approaches to musical forming without one or the other being compromised or diluted? Christopher Fox has decided to have the best of both worlds. The soloists and the orchestral musicians are assigned roles that enable them to play to their strengths. The conductor mediates. The forcefield is maintained. Just as the improvisers are told not to study the orchestra music, to avoid coming to a fixed idea of that soundworld, so too are the orchestra and conductor confronted with the sonic, dynamic and gestural unpredictabilty of the soloists. Improvisation and interpretation meet head to head."