Artists:
DOVILĖ JUOZAPAITIENĖ (viola)
JURGIS JUOZAPAITIS (viola)
Programme:
Alessandro Rolla - Duet for two viola Nos. 3 in F major
Lionel Tertis - Variations on Handel's Passacaglia theme for two violas
Garth Knox - "Viola Spaces for Two":
No. 1 "Beside the Bridge"
No. 3 "One Finger"
No.4 "Nine Fingers"
Frank Bridge - "Lament"
Antanas Rekašius - "Groteskas"
Dovilė Juozapaitienė and Jurgis Juozapaitis are two of the most prominent violists of their generation, the Concertmaster of the viola bands of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, and professors of the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy. Both artists are laureates of numerous national and international competitions, regularly performing as soloists and in chamber music ensembles. The violists began their joint musical activity in 2006, while still students at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. In 2008 they won an award at the Lithuanian Composers' Chamber Music Competition.
The title of the duo's programme was inspired by the work Viola Spaces by composer Gart Knox, which will also be performed in this concert. The individual movements of this work showcase the full range of the viola's playing technique and sonic possibilities. The whole concert programme follows a similar pattern. From classical duets, virtuosic opuses, romantic colourants to modern miniatures that can reveal the viola as an instrument from the most unexpected angles. In this concert, the performers will seek to reveal all the colours and spaces of the instrument, where there are no limits to musical vision.
The works to be performed this evening are rarely performed not only in Lithuania, but also in the wider musical world, not only because of their unconventional composition, but also because of their complexity. For example, Antanas Rekašius's Groteskas, dedicated to the famous Lithuanian violists Petras Radzevičius and Donatas Katkas, has never been performed by anyone else besides these musicians and the Juozapaičiai duo.
