PROGRAMME
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Cello suite No.2 in D minor, BWV 1008 (1717–23)
I. Prélude
II. Allemande
III. Courante
IV. Sarabande
V. Menuett I & II
VI. Gigue
Jean-Guihen Queyras — violoncello
Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023): Jing for soprano and cello (1979)
Ema Nikolovska — mezzo-soprano
Jean-Guihen Queyras — violoncello
Maurice Ravel (1875–1937): Sonata for violin and cello, M.73 (1920–22)
I. Allegro
II. Très vif
III. Lent
IV. Vif, avec entrain
Jonian Ilias Kadesha — violin
Jean-Guihen Queyras — violoncello
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959): Bachianas brasileiras No.5, W389 (1938)
I. Ária – Cantilena
Ema Nikolovska — mezzo-soprano
Jean-Guihen Queyras and students of the masterclass — violoncello
The concert is co-organized with the Region of Peloponnese and in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia.
Curiosity, diversity and a firm focus on the music itself characterise the artistic work of Jean-Guihen Queyras. Whether on stage or record, one experiences an artist dedicated completely and passionately to the music, whose humble and quite unpretentious treatment of the score reflects its clear, undistorted essence. His approaches to early music and contemporary music are equally thorough. Jean-Guihen Queyras was a founding member of the Arcanto Quartet and forms a celebrated trio with Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov; the latter is, alongside Alexandre Tharaud, a regular accompanist. The versatility in his music-making has led to many concert halls, festivals and orchestras inviting him to be an Artist in Residence. Jean-Guihen Queyras often appears with renowned orchestras and conductors, and his discography is impressive. He holds a professorship at the University of Music Freiburg and is Artistic Director of the Rencontres Musicales de Haute-Provence festival in Forcalquier, France. jeanguihenqueyras.com
© Kaupo Kikkas
Macedonian-Canadian mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska began her musical journey as a violinist, and it is with a sense of innate musicianship that sees her embody characters musical and operatic “with poise and impact” (Opera Today). She is an Alumna of the International Opera Studio at the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, where in 2023 she made her role debut as Octavian in “Der Rosenkavalier”. In the 2023/24 season, Ema made her house and role debut as the Fox in Janáček’s “The Cunning Little Vixen” at the Canadian Opera Company, and her debut at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre singing the lead role in George Benjamin’s “Picture a Day Like This”. In concert, she recently made her debut in Japan singing Mozart arias with the NHK Symphony and Petr Popelka, and already a celebrated recitalist, Ema has partnered in recent seasons with Martha Argerich, Sir András Schiff, Charles Richard-Hamelin and Sean Shibe.
Jonian Ilias Kadesha is a renaissance musician in the diversity and creativity of his intellectual interests and music-making. His studies in philosophy and rhetoric influence the stylistic accuracy of his interpretations, whether of early or contemporary music, and his rich imagination is clear both in the sound worlds he creates and the projects he curates as soloist, player–director and chamber musician. As a soloist, he has performed throughout Europe. Kadesha is also a committed chamber musician who collaborates with renowned musicians. He is co-founder of the award-winning Trio Gaspard, a member of the Kelemen Quartet and increasingly in demand with leading chamber orchestras as player/director. In 2017, Kadesha founded and assumed the role of Artistic Director of the Caerus Chamber Ensemble. Born in Athens, with Albanian and Greek heritage, Kadesha studied from a young age at Musikhochschule Würzburg, followed by studies at Kronberg Academy. jonianiliaskadesha.net