pRESS
“In the composer Utku Asuroglu’s pieces, colors joust like a child battling with their plastic toys: passages of extreme, artificial, neon intensity sit alongside moments of sensitive beauty, moving from Starburst-candy orange to oceanic blues and grays. Lo- fi electronic glissandi and kazoos unravel into bare tendrils of melody. Many of his works traverse great textural distances in short times, evoking a very contemporary feeling of fragmentation to which much new music aspires, but less commonly achieves in such a lasting way.”
— Jeffrey Arlo Brown: “Create an Aura”, 05/2024
“A mixed piece for cello (Alexa Ciciretti) and electronics, in which the juxtaposition of contrasting sonic events and the lyrical expressiveness of the cello contribute to a rich and varied ensemble.”
— “Au croisement du son, de l’image et du mouvement” Own Translation 09/2022
“Utku Asuroglu is a highly talented independent young artist In addition to the special precision of his work he possesses a high artistic will to express which is never an end in itself but always musically bound and formed. The craftmanship and form of his music unite to create an extraordinarily inspired art.”
— Beat Furrer: “City Prize of Graz”, 11/2014: Own Translation
“A fiery tempestuous action-packed piece of excitement.”
— Jéremie Szpirglas: “Portrait Manifeste: Utku Asuroglu”, 06/2015: Own Translation
“Utku Asuroglu has been represented every year with new compositions at Gaudeamus Music Week since 2015. ‘Cutoff‘ is a rhythmic violent eruption that was delightfully premiered by Slagwerk Den Haag. A very earthly and physical musical work.”
— Ben Taffijn: “Gaudeamus Muziekweek 2018 – Deel 4 (Concert Recensie)”, 09/2018: Own Translation
“The Turkish composer weighs up everything and anything. He tends to hover between reality and the imagination. Asuroglu searches, has misgivings, questions everything he sees. His music reflects this.”
— “Music Pioneers“, 08/2015
“Utku Asuroglu’s work Aggravation is a strikingly convincing work characterized by an original sonic ingenuity and an unconventional handling of form In addition to its virtuosic mastery of the ensemble the integration of heterogeneous material is a quality that is wonderfully emphasized in this work. The compelling energetics of this piece oscillates between the nest sound textures and outgoing gestures. To master this compositionally in addition to undeniable freshness is one of the essential qualities of this work.”
— Johannes Maria Staud: “Outstanding Artist Award 2016”, 11/2016: Own Translation
“With a rapid pulse the four strings draw audacious sound loops switching noise levels at certain points and allows the music to rock. Thus contemporary music gains in persuasion for everyone. Big applause for the composer.”
— “Ein Abend von extremer Intensität“, 08/2011: Own Translation
Broadcast from Gaudeamus Music Week 2017 featuring “und”. Click here to listen.
Interview with The Riot Ensemble prior to the premiere of “Hayirli Olsun” in the UK. Click here to read.
Interview with vpro.nl. Click here to watch.
Radio France broadcast from Manifeste 2018 featuring “Provocation”. Click here to listen.