Music on Thursdays
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Thursday 10th August 2023
12.30 lunchtime
Diphonon Duo
Michael Iskas, viola
Iñigo Mikeleiz Berrade, accordion
Programme
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
arr Agnes Elisabeth Lutyens (1906-1983)
Air, Dance, Ground from Dido and Aeneas for viola & piano (1946)
Pantaleón Enrique Joaquín Granados Campiña (1867–1916)
known as Enrique Granados (Catalan: Enric Granados)
from 12 Spanish Dances:
II Orientale
V Andaluza
Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)
from Suite Hebraique for viola & piano (1951)
I Rapsodie
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
from Bachianas Brasileiras Bach inspired Brazilian pieces (1938-45)
5 Aria (Cantilena) (1938)
Joaquin Taboada Alcalá (b1966)
Minimal Tango
Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Oblivion (1982)
Juan Cazcarra Mateo (b1991)
El Yeli (2017)
Concert duration approx: 40 minutes
Please donate to help fund these concerts at: cafdonate.cafonline.org/14455
Diphonon Duo
Diphonon Duo is a viola and accordion duo formed by the Greek viola player Michael Iskas, and Iñigo Mikeleiz Berrade, accordionist from Navarra (Spain). Michael and Iñigo established this ensemble in 2015 during their Masters of Arts studies at the Royal Academy of Music, after discovering they shared common musical interests.
The Greek word "Diphonon" (Δίφωνον) refers to the quality of “having two voices”.
The combination of accordion and viola, bow and bellows, is an unusual duo. However, the two instruments have more similarities than someone could think, since both are able to sustain the sound for a long time and vary its colour and intensity. For string players, this possibility is a very interesting area to explore. The great cello player Mstislav Rostropovich said that "If cellists want to discover the possibilities of the cello, they should play with accordion and not piano".
The repertoire performed by Diphonon Duo reaches different styles and ages: from original works for the duo to transcriptions of baroque and classical music. The duo involves the audience in a journey through time and space, travelling musically from the 17th century to the present day and visiting countries all over the world and their musical traditions.
As the repertoire for this combination of instruments is quite limited, Diphonon Duo often draws the attention of contemporary composers who collaborate with them. For some of the commissions, the ensemble has been supported by the Arts Council of England, Royal Philharmonic Society and private donors.
Diphonon Duo performs in various venues in London, UK and Spain such as the Wigmore Hall, St Martin in-the-fields, St James's Piccadilly, Royal Academy of Music, British Museum, Bristol Beacon, Seamus Heaney Home Place (Bellaghy, N Ireland) and Civican Centre (Pamplona, Spain).
During the 2017-18 academic year the duo was appointed Wigmore Hall Learning Ensemble, being regular collaborators in the outreach program of the venue since then. Also, since 2019 they have been members of Live Music Now, an organization which works with a diverse range of people that rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to experience live music. Working in this field is at the core of Diphonon Duo’s values and aims, since they believe that music has the power to break barriers and bring people together.
The duo has received coaching and guidance from eminent musicians such as Owen Murray, Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, Mie Miki, Bjarke Mogensen (accordionists), and James Sleigh, Roger Chase, Garth Knox (violists). This has shaped the ensemble's stylistic perception, enabling them to contribute to the unique character of each composition.
The Greek word "Diphonon" (Δίφωνον) refers to the quality of “having two voices”.
The combination of accordion and viola, bow and bellows, is an unusual duo. However, the two instruments have more similarities than someone could think, since both are able to sustain the sound for a long time and vary its colour and intensity. For string players, this possibility is a very interesting area to explore. The great cello player Mstislav Rostropovich said that "If cellists want to discover the possibilities of the cello, they should play with accordion and not piano".
The repertoire performed by Diphonon Duo reaches different styles and ages: from original works for the duo to transcriptions of baroque and classical music. The duo involves the audience in a journey through time and space, travelling musically from the 17th century to the present day and visiting countries all over the world and their musical traditions.
As the repertoire for this combination of instruments is quite limited, Diphonon Duo often draws the attention of contemporary composers who collaborate with them. For some of the commissions, the ensemble has been supported by the Arts Council of England, Royal Philharmonic Society and private donors.
Diphonon Duo performs in various venues in London, UK and Spain such as the Wigmore Hall, St Martin in-the-fields, St James's Piccadilly, Royal Academy of Music, British Museum, Bristol Beacon, Seamus Heaney Home Place (Bellaghy, N Ireland) and Civican Centre (Pamplona, Spain).
During the 2017-18 academic year the duo was appointed Wigmore Hall Learning Ensemble, being regular collaborators in the outreach program of the venue since then. Also, since 2019 they have been members of Live Music Now, an organization which works with a diverse range of people that rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to experience live music. Working in this field is at the core of Diphonon Duo’s values and aims, since they believe that music has the power to break barriers and bring people together.
The duo has received coaching and guidance from eminent musicians such as Owen Murray, Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, Mie Miki, Bjarke Mogensen (accordionists), and James Sleigh, Roger Chase, Garth Knox (violists). This has shaped the ensemble's stylistic perception, enabling them to contribute to the unique character of each composition.
Recordings of the works in today's concert
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
arr Agnes Elisabeth Lutyens (1906-1983)
Air, Dance, Ground from Dido and Aeneas for viola & piano (1946)
We found no online recording of the Lutyens arrangement, so we have chosen a performance of the overture to Dido & Aeneas by The Academy of Ancient Music, directed from the harpsichord by Steven Devine.
arr Agnes Elisabeth Lutyens (1906-1983)
Air, Dance, Ground from Dido and Aeneas for viola & piano (1946)
We found no online recording of the Lutyens arrangement, so we have chosen a performance of the overture to Dido & Aeneas by The Academy of Ancient Music, directed from the harpsichord by Steven Devine.
Pantaleón Enrique Joaquín Granados Campiña (1867–1916)
known as Enrique Granados (Catalan: Enric Granados)
from 12 Spanish Dances:
II Orientale
V Andaluza
For Orientale we have chosen a recording by Ettore Causa, vila, and Ulrich Stærk, piano. The performance of Andaluza is by the Diphonon Duo themselves
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Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)
from Suite Hebraique for viola & piano (1951)
I Rapsodie
Once again we have a piano and viola version of this work. The violist is Spencer Martin, his accompanist, Xiao Hu. They are in the Noble Recital Hall of Luther College, a liberal arts college in Decorah, Iowa.
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
from Bachianas Brasileiras Bach inspired Brazilian pieces (1938-45)
5 Aria (Cantilena) (1938)
Youtube say very little about this recording by Andreas Lend, cello, and Allan Jakobi, accordion.
Joaquin Taboada Alcalá (b1966)
Minimal Tango
Once again we have the advantage of an excellent recording by the Diphonon Duo.
Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Oblivion (1982)
Here there is only one choice - Piazolla himself playing the bandoneon, with orchestra, from the soundtrack to the 1954 film Enrico IV or Henry IV.
Juan Cazcarra Mateo (b1991)
El Yeli (2017)
For our final piece the choice is again Diphonon Duo themselves.
Previous concert
3 August 2023 - XinRu Chen, piano - click here
Next concert
17 August 2023 - Piano à Deux - Linda Ang Stoodley & Robert Stoodley- click here
