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“Bolter spotlighted the showiest aspects…and made it look easy.”
The Washington Post
“Bolter’s spontaneous zestfully-informed gestures led the musicians and thus the audience in an hour and a half of inspiration amid technical complexity…”
“A mesmerizing exploration of resonance.” Bolter led Northwestern University’s Bienen Contemporary Music Ensemble in the Chicago premiere of Hans Thomalla’s ‘Wonderblock,’ a sometimes mesmerizing exploration of resonance. Movement from watery long-sustained tones to ones clipped and dry repaid significant concentration.
“All business as he wove together Balter’s imaginative soundscape” … cuing the young musicians at every entrance. As mentioned in his note, Balter sought to create a union between ICE and the youth ensemble, and, in that goal, the music was successful.
Chicago Classical Review
“We could only pray that maybe, just maybe, we could live long enough to experience something this great once again.” Capping off this evening was the world premiere of Drew Baker’s NOX, performed by the All Ear Taxi Festival Musicians. In a darkened Harris Theater, the ensemble members were scattered all over the house, some on-stage, some in the aisles, and others up in the balcony, taking direction from conductor Ben Bolter, who, facing the audience from the back of the stage, was the only illuminated person in the whole hall.
“Quite the best of the Ear Taxi events I had witnessed up to then.” The world premiere of Drew Baker’s ‘NOX’ made an altogether striking close to an absorbing, eclectic program.
Chicago Tribune