The Barbara B. Smith World Music Series brings Aritmia Duo to Rochester, Friday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m., in Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music. All About Jazz noted that the duo is āA gorgeous pairingā¦ more than sheer virtuosityā¦ the two play with such serene authority that the listener is almost afraid to take a breathā¦the result is this quietly compelling and deeply felt music.ā
The duo is composed of one of the worldās finest concert accordionists, Bosnian-born Merima KljuÄo, and an acclaimed guitarist of Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian origins, Miroslav TadiÄ. The two celebrated instrumentalists ruminate on their common roots and shared loves of traditional Balkan and classical music with original works and arrangements of Erik Satie, Manuel de Falla, and the mournful music of sevdahāsometimes called āBosnian blues.ā Sharing the fruits of their unique musical partnership, KljuÄo and TadiÄ offer a singular mix of joy, yearning and aching beauty. FolkWorks describes the virtuosic pair as, āA stunning marriage of the two instrumentsā¦ it has you on the edge of your seat wondering if the tune is going to erupt into loud, rhythmic dance music or fade into oblivion.āĀ
Whether she is performing accordion in recital, with ensembles, or as a guest soloist with orchestras, the soulful traditions of Merima KljuÄoās instrument are not only given a unique voice, but they are given new life and meaning. KljuÄoās love of world music, and the music of Bosnia in particular, is something she seeks to share with audiences everywhere. Currently a guest faculty member at Yellow Barn, an international center for chamber music in Vermont, KljuÄo has given workshops and master classes in conservatories and universities all over the world, including Guildhall School of Music in England, the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and Syracuse and Georgetown Universities in the United States.
A guitarist, composer, and improviser, Miroslav TadiÄ has performed and recorded in a wide variety of settings and musical styles, ranging from music of the Baroque and Classical periods to Blues, Jazz, Rock and World Music. TadiÄ completed his formal music education in the United States after studying in Italy and his native Yugoslavia. Performing regularly in Europe, North and South America, and Japan, he has had the opportunity to record his music worldwide. In recent years, he has concentrated on developing an approach to improvisation which combines and juxtaposes musical material drawn from many diverse sources. TadiÄ has been a professor at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles, California since 1985.
The World Music Series is sponsored by a generous gift from Barbara B. Smith.
Tickets for the Aritmia Duo performance are $16-24, with $10 student tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at the Eastman Theatre Box Office, 433 East Main St.; by phone (585) 274-3000; or online at http://eastmantheatre.org
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About Eastman School of Music:
The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastmanās dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training. The current dean is Jamal Rossi, appointed in 2014.
About 900 students are enrolled in Eastmanās Collegiate Divisionāabout 550 undergraduate and 350 graduate students. Students come from almost every state, and approximately 25 percent are from other countries. They are guided by more than 95 full-time faculty members. Six alumni and three faculty members have been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music, and numerous alumni and faculty have received Grammy Awards. Each year, Eastmanās students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 800 concerts to the Rochester community.