Cavatina Duo

The New York Times wrote, “stunning” and “musicians worth keeping an eye on.”

Performance:

Thurssday, October 22, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
1100 Carter Creek Parkway
Bryan, Texas 77802

Biography:

The Cavatina Duo-Eugenia Moliner, flute (from Spain) and Denis Azabagic, guitar (from Bosnia)-has become one of the most impressive combinations of its kind in the world.

Since winning the "Young Musicians of the Doelen" competition in the Netherlands in 1996, the Cavatina Duo has captivated audiences with their electrifying performances across North America, Europe and Asia in such major venues and festivals as Ravinia (Chicago), Da Camera Society (Los Angeles), Aix-en-Provence Summer Festival (France), Eem & Veem Festival (Netherlands), International Guitar Festival of Frechen (Germany), the National Concert Hall of Taipei (Taiwan), National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China, National Flute convention Gala Concert,USA, among many others.

The duo's repertoire includes music from the Baroque, classical, Romantic and contemporary periods. A high point of their concerts is music inspired by the folk traditions of their native lands of Spain and the Balkans.

The duo's performances have been broadcast by radio and television stations in Europe and North America. They have been the subject of interviews in the international magazines Classical Guitar (UK), Guitarra Magazine (web) and Soundboard (USA). They are the first guitar and flute duo to be featured on the cover of Classical Guitar Magazine (UK).

Composers from around the world have been inspired to compose and arrange new works for the duo: Sérgio Assad and Clarice Assad (Brazil); Carlos Rivera, Michael Karmon and Michael Djupstrom (USA); Alan Thomas (UK-USA), Erik Otte (the Netherlands); Alejandro Yagüe (Spain); Boris Gaquere (Belgium) and V. Ivanovic (Bosnia/Greece). The Duo received the Encore Prize in 2003 for their collaboration with Michael Karmon.

They have recorded three CD's for the Spanish and North American labels Opera Tres, Orobroy and Cedille Records. Forthcoming are an all-Piazzolla CD, as well as a disc of Balkan music which will be released by Cedille Records in 2009.

The duo's critical acclaim includes such comments as:

"this pair is generally considered to be the best of them [flute and guitar duos]." -The New Yorker Magazine

"Style, sympathy, and technical aplomb . . . . it's doubtful that the Cavatina's sophisticated and artistic playing could be surpassed… -Fanfare Magazine

"The husband and wife team . . . worked a kind of magic with their instruments . . . The collaborative powers of this couple are extraordinary." -SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP, Chicago

"The energy levels behind these brilliant musicians are breathtaking and fascinating." -BRITISH FLUTE SOCIETY MAGAZINE, England

"Their Piazzolla performance is vibrant and colorful…convincing intensity that creates a haunting atmosphere. Highly recommended!" -CLASSICAL GUITAR MAGAZINE, England

"An evening of music that was varied, entertaining and performed with exceptional virtuosity and panache." -FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM

"Sensual sounds and an earthy musical understanding…Their sometimes playful, sometimes soulful approach to the tangos is just what the pieces need." -AMERICA RECORD GUIDE

Eugenia Moliner has been acclaimed as a "brilliant young musician" by the British Flute Society magazine. She has performed with the principal musicians of the Chicago Symphony and Rotterdam Philharmonic, and has been featured on radio and television programs in Spain, the Netherlands, Taiwan and the USA. Her discography includes four CD's. Ms. Moliner holds degrees in music performance from the Conservatories of Valencia (Spain) and Rotterdam (Netherlands).

Winner of no fewer than eleven international competitions, Denis Azabagic has been described as a "virtuoso with flawless technique" by Soundboard Magazine. He has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the Chicago and Madrid Symphonies, among many others. His discography includes seven CDs, two DVDs and a manual entitled "On Competitions-Dealing with Performance Stress." He is a member of the guitar faculty at the Chicago College of Performing Arts of Roosevelt University.

More Information:

Please contact Cavatina Duo.