CHAMBER MUSIC
A “ FOUR HANDS – GUITAR”
The duo originates from the precious musical experience of the years
of study under the lead of Ruggero Chiesa at the Conservatory of Music
in Milan. Subsequently, the two musicians have developed their profession
along separate ways.
Ester Poli has broadened her concert activities especially in Northern
Europe, while studying in depth the local musical traditions. During her
prolonged stays in Norway and Denmark she has worked with prominent personalities
of the guitar scene, both composers and players.
Leopoldo Saracino, Professor of guitar at the Conservatory of Music in
Monopoli (Bari), performs both in Italy and abroad, especially in Germany,
where he lives.
For a few years now the duo has been actively engaged in concerts in Italy and abroad presenting the traditional guitar repertoire. At the same time, thanks to the musical experience in Northern Europe, greatly enhancing contemporary arts, the duo has become involved in several projects set up together with other musicians: a tour of Scandinavia, the Baltic Countries and Germany; a close collaboration with other musicians; the recording, still in the making with some Danish ensemble, of a CD dedicated to the music for guitar by a great living Lithuanian composer.
The duo's lively concert and research activity has been met everywhere with extremely favourable response:
"A dialogue between the two guitarists, who take the flow of the melody up to the highest dramatic peaks, while still keeping their perfect syncronicity, and maintaining carefully the dancing rhythm of the piece..” (Wolfsburger Nachrichten, march 2003, Wolfsburger Schloss, Wolfsburg)
"Their musical style is characterized by the ability to capture
the multiplicity of ensemble music, a relief and a comfort for the soul...
”
"....The whole concert was pervaded by a subtle musical refinement...
a particular technical ability, a profound knowledge of the instruments
and of the modalities of chamber music being the duo's distinguishing
feature.”
"........... Listening to them was a profound inner appeasement,
also in force of their great intelligent stylistic understanding, and
this through five centuries of music.”
(Axel Borup-Jørgensen, april 2003, concert at Rundetårnet,
Copenhagen)
"There was good collaboration between the performing couple,
with much understanding and communication ensuring a stylish presentation
of the work......the guitar duo rightly indulged in a greeter flexibility
of tempos and in a broader variety of moods and accompanying dynamics”.
...."the work’s inherent texture was very carefully analysed
and subtleties in the score were brought out through detailing in shading
that guaranteed finesse in a musical shape”.
(The Sunday Times, june 2003, Bir Miftuh Music Festival, Malta)
Leopoldo Saracino was born in Milan in 1965.
He studied with Ruggero Chiesa, at the State Conservatory
G.Verdi in Milan until 1986. Since graduating he has pursued a varied
career as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician.
Subsequent studies have been with David Russell. He won
several international competition, such as the international competition
"M.Giuliani", The International Prize of Contemporary Music
of Lagonegro and the Scandinavian International Guitar Competition.
He recorded several CD, such as the complete works for guitar and fortepiano
by F. Carulli and the 36 Capricci op.20 by Luigi R. Legnani for solo guitar,
on the Nuova Era Records label. He has collaborated several times with
the “Teatro alla Scala” in Milan.
He teaches at the Conservatory of Music in Monopoli (Bari).
A NORDIC VOICE AND AN ITALIAN GUITAR
Jerker Dahlin - Ester Poli
The young swedish tenor Jerker Dahlin is already very well known in Scandinavia.
He has toured extensively in Europe and in the United States, obtaining
great success for both his voice, endowed with vast timbric possibilities,
and for his interpretive gifts and strong stage presence.
The Duo features a repertoire consisting of music from both the "classical" period (for example Schubert's Lieder, transcriptions by Mauro Giuliani of Arias from Italian operas) as of beautiful traditional Swedish music (like that of K.M.Bellman). The timbric possibilities of an instrument such as the guitar, together with the warm softness of this male voice, creates an intimate atmosphere typical for chamber music.
It is possible to comprehend the Duo's scenic and musical worth from
viewing the video cassette and their recording of one of their latest
concerts.
The Duo was founded in Oslo, and has performed concerts mainly in Scandinavia.
The Duo is often enriched by their collaboration with Norwegian flutist
Carina Amundsen.
By alternating the Duo- and the Trio-formation, there
are presented varied concert programs consisting of music by Schubert
to Takemitsu and from Diabelli to Evensen
GUITAR AND MANDOLIN
Ester Poli-Reidar Edvardsen
The duo consists of the Italian guitarist Ester Poli and the Norwegian
mandolinist Reidar Edvardsen.
This quite recent group have gained great acclaim in important festivals
like the 36th Festival «Plectro Rioja» 2002
in Logroño (Spain).
The repertoire includes baroque music (Vivaldi and Leone), 19th cent.
(Rung and Henriques), romantic Italian (Munier and Calace) and contemporary.
The schedule for 2004 includes at the moment concerts in Norway; Denmark
and Italy and recording of a CD featuring «Original
Scandinavian works for mandolin and guitar, 19th to 21st century»
In connection to this project, the two musicians have collaborated and
will collaborate with important contemporary Scandinavian composers
like Kjell Marcussen, Østen Ore, Olaf Näslund and Turi Jonsdottir
to extend the repertoire.
Reidar Edvardsen touched the mandolin for the first
time years after his graduation as a guitarist. For a long time he has
now been mandolinist of the Norwegian National Opera
and other symphonic and chamber orchestras, and pioneered
the instrument in Norway by playing its classical reportoire and cooperating
with composers to create new works. He has performed all over
Norway, and appeared with leading musicians from different
countrys. In addition he has been playing concerts in England,
Sweden, Russia, Austria, Greece, Italy and Spain, and have been
granted more scolarships for his activity. Reidar Edvardsen has for many
years worked as teacher and conductor of mandolinorchestras, and was lecturing
the EGMYO-2000 (European Guitar and mandolinYouth Orchestra) in Ferrara,
Italy
