IPAR HAIZEA (North Wind in Basque) is the latest record by the SIGMA Project quartet, the eleventh one in their fifteen year long international career. The album offers a live listening experience with an authentic "live concert" feel.

This new album is a monograph that gathers the most prominent composers of the current Basque contemporary music landscape. Pieces by Helga Arias, Gabriel Erkoreka, Félix Ibarrondo and Ramon Lazkano are featured alongside two works by Luis de Pablo, the patriarch of contemporary Basque music.

Undoubtedly, one of the key qualities or characteristics of SIGMA Project is that they are “true stage animals.” Irvine Arditti, the renowned violinist, praised the Spanish quartet after their world premiere of the cycle “Poética del Laberinto” in Mexico City in 2017:
"Magnificently accurate, inventive and awe-inspiring performance by the SIGMA Project. I thought that this level of precision could only come from a string quartet.”

This same quality is also emphasized by one of the most important Mexican musical figures of the 20th century, composer Mario Lavista: "Attending a concert by SIGMA Project is embarking on a musical journey where joy and wonder are always present. Listening to SIGMA Project is undoubtedly one of the most enriching experiences one can have."

Of the six pieces featured in this new album, four have been expressly composed for SIGMA Project. These include the quartets by Helga Arias, Ramon Lazkano, Félix Ibarrondo, and Luis de Pablo, which were all born from close collaboration with the composers. SIGMA Project has also maintained a very close relationship with Gabriel Erkoreka. He was part of the quartet’s inaugural program in 2008 and, more recently, his quartet “Swirls” was premiered by SIGMA Project in Canada and Mexico.

IPAR HAIZEA is supported by the 2022 Music Unitary Projects (Proyectos Musicales Unitarios) of the Department of Culture of the Basque Government.

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IPAR HAIZEA da SIGMA Project kuartetoaren disko berria, hamaikagarrena haien hamabost urteko ibilbide internazionalean. Zuzeneko soinu-entzuketaren esperientzia proposatzen dute, egiazko “live concert” bat.

Disko berri hau euskal musika garaikidearen musikagile garrantzitsuenek sortutako lanak biltzen duen monografikoa da. Helga Arias, Gabriel Erkoreka, Félix Ibarrondo eta Ramon Lazkano konposizioak aurkezten dira, baita Luis de Pabloren bi konposizio ere, euskal musika gaizkidearen patriarka.

SIGMA Project-en ezaugarri edo gaitasun nagusi bat aukeratu behar izatean, horietako bat “eszenatokiko animaliak” izatea izango litzateke, zalantzarik gabe. Irvine Ardittik hitz hauek esan zituen SIGMA Project-ek “Poética del Laberinto” zikloa estreinatu ondoren, Mexiko Hirian 2017an:
“Espainiatik etorritakoak, SIGMA Project-en interpretazioa benetan bikaina, zehatza, asmatzailea eta miresgarria izan da. Uste nuen zehaztasun mota hau hari-kuarteto batetik bakarrik etor zitekeela”.

Ezaugarri hori bera azpimarratzen du Mario Lavista konpositoreak, XX. mendeko Mexikoko musika-pertsonarik garrantzitsuenetako bat:
“SIGMA Project-en kontzertuak bidai musikalak dira, zorionez eta harriduraz beterik. Izan dezakezun esperientziarik aberasgarrienetako bat da”.

Disko berri honetako sei lanetatik, lau SIGMA Project-entzako bereziki idatzita daude: Helga Arias, Ramon Lazkano, Félix Ibarrondo eta Luis de Pabloren kuartetoak. Horiek guztiak sortu ziren aipatutako musikagileekin lankidetza estuan. Bestalde, SIGMA Project oso harreman estua du Gabriel Erkoreka konpositorearekin. Erkorekak kuartetoaren inaugurazio-programan parte hartu zuen, 2008an, eta SIGMA Project-ek duela gutxi bere "Swirls" kuartetoa aurkeztu du Kanadan eta Mexikon.

IPAR HAIZEA Eusko Jaurlaritzako Kultura Sailaren Proiektu Unitarioen (2022) laguntza izan du.