Caprice (band)


Caprice is a Moscow-based Russian neoclassical ensemble distinguished by its acoustic sound combined with electronic elements and ethereal female vocals. All of the music is composed by Anton Brejestovski. Caprice's musicians also perform in various Russian orchestras, including the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, the State Symphony Capella of Russia, and Yuri Bashmet's New Russia Symphony Orchestra. The group gained recognition through its Elven trilogy Elvenmusic, which also gave a name to their musical style.
Caprice was formed in 1996. That same year, the debut album Zerkalo was recorded. Between 1998 and 2005, the group developed the musical style known as “music of the elves,” recording the Elven trilogy: Elvenmusic, The Evening of Iluvatar’s Children, and Tales of the Uninvited, and later Girdenwodan Part I and Girdenwodan Part II.
A significant part of the group’s work includes compositions based on the poetry of British writers such as William Blake, Robert Burns, Percy Shelley, Alfred Tennyson, Oscar Wilde, and others. This theme is reflected in three albums: Songs of Innocence and Experience, Sister Simplicity, and Kywitt! Kywitt!.
In 2009, the group released the meditative album Six Secret Words.
In 2012 and 2014, the Girdenwodan duology was released — a stylistic continuation of Elvenmusic.
In 2024, after a ten-year silence, the group released an album based on the poetry of Federico García Lorca titled Amargo. It was Caprice’s first self-released album; all previous releases had been published by the label Prikosnovenie.

Discography

Mirror 1996Elvenmusic 2001Songs of Innocence and Experience 2002The Evening of Iluvatar’s Children 2003Sister Simplicity 2004Tales of the Uninvited 2005Zerkalo revised version 2006 including "Waltz" to the words of J.R.R. TolkienKywitt! Kywitt! 2007, Prikosnovenie; reissued 2008 ShadowplayViola Floralis suite on La Nuit des Fees 2 2008Six Secret Words 2009Think Caprice' 2010Maskarad 2010Girdenwodan Part I 2012Girdenwodan Part II 2014Amargo 2024

Unreleased Works

  • "Angel with a Trumpet", feature film
  • "Prayer", feature film
  • "The Architect" – a mini-opera based on Daniil Kharms, performed in concert
  • Quartet "Four Poems by Daniil Andreev", performed in concert
  • Cello Sonata, performed in concert
  • "Grimm Brothers' Tales", radio drama
  • "The Seasons", ballet
  • "The Faerie Queen", ballet
  • "Destination Arundo", for oboe, cello and electronics, in collaboration with Denis Osver