By Jennifer Reiff
Apr 15, 2009
How did the Cavatina Duo get its start? When did you first begin playing together?
We met while studding in the Rotterdam’s conservatorium, in the Netherlands.
It would take few years before we took the duo seriously, we did some touring in 96 (Germany, Spain, France, Holland) but it was not until the release of our first CD in 1999 that the duo got the real “Kickstart”
What do you see as the unique challenges and advantages of performing as a husband and wife duo?
Well, being married makes something’s easier, but you don’t want to be near by when we rehearse…
traveling together is really nice, specially if we get some time to enjoy the place where we are performing …
The best part is sharing the excitement of the concert it self, sharing the stage and the wonderful feeling of making music together…
Who were your teachers and most profound musical influences?
Denis: I studied with many great teachers in my native Bosnia, as well as in Croatia and Holland. They have been: Predrag Stankovic, Vojislav Ivanovic, Darko Petrinjak, and Eugenia’s flute teacher in Rotterdam, Jo Hagen, whom for years taught me music, making me see the the guitar like a small orchestra.
Eugenia: I studied in my native Valencia and in Rotterdam, but I had some influences from other flutist and musicians who helped me to keep going and never loose the sight of my dreams of performing music.
Juan gual, Jo Hagen, Jaime Martin, Jan Gruithuizen, Kate Hill, Magdalena Martinez, Els Van Zundert.
When did both of your begin playing your respective instruments and how did you decide that you wanted to play the flute/guitar independently and as a professional duo?
Denis: I started playing the guitar at age 6 and it became clear in my teenage years that I wanted to became a solo guitarist… chamber musician, it just cam along when I started playing with Eugenia.
Eugenia: I was 15 when the flute landed in my hands, and I had it clear from the beginning, that was going to be my life.
I was a freelance player while studding in Holland, then when I started playing with Denis the idea of performing chamber music became much more appealing than playing in the orchestra. I love what I do!
The Duo, as we said before had the real start after the release of our first CD in ’99.
How do you go about designing your programs and selecting the pieces you perform?
We have tried for years to promote original music written for our combination. Two of our three CD’s reflect that, where we recorded all original music. Also, we have been commissioning music for few years now as well as asking composers to arrange music that has both of our parts at the same level, and by that we mean that we want the guitar part to play an important role and be much more than a simple accompaniment for the flute, creating substantial music, building a respectable repertoire, that is our goal. which is essential to have, in order to enter the world of chamber music.We have two more Cd’s coming out next year, one with all arrangements of Piazzolla music and the other one with all the new pieces that we have commissioned, (to composers from all over the world) in the pasts years. It will also be released with Cedille Records and its based on Balkan folklore music.
What are your favorite pieces/composers to play?
Well, Piazzolla is defenetly one of our preferences. Also, Assad (both Father and daughter are great composers), Leisner, Takemitsu, Rivera, Alan Thomas, A. Yague, Roberto Sierra… there are many.
What do you currently listen to for leisure and inspiration?
We listen classical and Jazz mainly.
There is nothing that inspire us more than live performances and having the CSO is such a treat! we listen to them when we get the chance…
Apr 15, 2009
How did the Cavatina Duo get its start? When did you first begin playing together?
We met while studding in the Rotterdam’s conservatorium, in the Netherlands.
It would take few years before we took the duo seriously, we did some touring in 96 (Germany, Spain, France, Holland) but it was not until the release of our first CD in 1999 that the duo got the real “Kickstart”
What do you see as the unique challenges and advantages of performing as a husband and wife duo?
Well, being married makes something’s easier, but you don’t want to be near by when we rehearse…
traveling together is really nice, specially if we get some time to enjoy the place where we are performing …
The best part is sharing the excitement of the concert it self, sharing the stage and the wonderful feeling of making music together…
Who were your teachers and most profound musical influences?
Denis: I studied with many great teachers in my native Bosnia, as well as in Croatia and Holland. They have been: Predrag Stankovic, Vojislav Ivanovic, Darko Petrinjak, and Eugenia’s flute teacher in Rotterdam, Jo Hagen, whom for years taught me music, making me see the the guitar like a small orchestra.
Eugenia: I studied in my native Valencia and in Rotterdam, but I had some influences from other flutist and musicians who helped me to keep going and never loose the sight of my dreams of performing music.
Juan gual, Jo Hagen, Jaime Martin, Jan Gruithuizen, Kate Hill, Magdalena Martinez, Els Van Zundert.
When did both of your begin playing your respective instruments and how did you decide that you wanted to play the flute/guitar independently and as a professional duo?
Denis: I started playing the guitar at age 6 and it became clear in my teenage years that I wanted to became a solo guitarist… chamber musician, it just cam along when I started playing with Eugenia.
Eugenia: I was 15 when the flute landed in my hands, and I had it clear from the beginning, that was going to be my life.
I was a freelance player while studding in Holland, then when I started playing with Denis the idea of performing chamber music became much more appealing than playing in the orchestra. I love what I do!
The Duo, as we said before had the real start after the release of our first CD in ’99.
How do you go about designing your programs and selecting the pieces you perform?
We have tried for years to promote original music written for our combination. Two of our three CD’s reflect that, where we recorded all original music. Also, we have been commissioning music for few years now as well as asking composers to arrange music that has both of our parts at the same level, and by that we mean that we want the guitar part to play an important role and be much more than a simple accompaniment for the flute, creating substantial music, building a respectable repertoire, that is our goal. which is essential to have, in order to enter the world of chamber music.We have two more Cd’s coming out next year, one with all arrangements of Piazzolla music and the other one with all the new pieces that we have commissioned, (to composers from all over the world) in the pasts years. It will also be released with Cedille Records and its based on Balkan folklore music.
What are your favorite pieces/composers to play?
Well, Piazzolla is defenetly one of our preferences. Also, Assad (both Father and daughter are great composers), Leisner, Takemitsu, Rivera, Alan Thomas, A. Yague, Roberto Sierra… there are many.
What do you currently listen to for leisure and inspiration?
We listen classical and Jazz mainly.
There is nothing that inspire us more than live performances and having the CSO is such a treat! we listen to them when we get the chance…