Description
The Cavatina Duo - Eugenia Moliner, flute (Spain) and Denis Azabagic, guitar (Bosnia)—has become one of the most impressive combinations of its kind in the world. Critics are raving:
“Style, sympathy, and technical aplomb . . . it's doubtful that the Cavatina's sophisticated and artistic playing could be surpassed.” —Fanfare
Dedicated soloists and chamber musicians, the Cavatina Duo breaks convention with their combination of instruments. Since their first concert in 1998, the Cavatina Duo has captivated audiences with their electrifying performances in such major venues and festivals as Ravinia’s Raising Stars series (Chicago), Da Camera Society (Los Angeles), Aix-en-Provence Summer Festival (France), the National Concert Hall of Taipei (Taiwan), National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing (China), National Flute Convention Gala Concert (USA), the Harris Theater (Chicago), Kolkata International Guitar Festival (India), Foundation Principe Felipe and Palau de la Musica (Spain),…etc
The duo has compiled a substantial number of recordings on the Spanish and North American labels Opera Tres, Cedille, Bridge and Orobroy Records.
Denis Azabagic and Eugenia Moliner are Artists-Faculty at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and teaching associates at the University of Illinois at Chicago, UIC.
Work Sample
Marin Marais: Folias de España, excerpt from Cavatina Duo's latest album with Bridge Records, " Folias and Fantasies - Cavatina Duo plays Marais and Telemann"
Fantasy on themes from La Traviata performed by the Cavatina Duo at the International Guitar Festival in Radford, VA, April 2016
Cavatina Duo performs Macedonian Pieces by Miroslav Tadic at the International Guitar Festival in Gliwice, Poland, November 2013 2013
These samples are just a quick snapshot of Cavatina Duo's repertoire that reflects the variety of styles within classical music genre.
Our repertoire ranges from the Baroque era (Bach, Telemann, Marais; American Record Guide CRITIC'S CHOICE, BEST OF 2020),
includes a broad selection of works from classical/romantic period (Cavatina at the Opera, American Record Guide CRITIC'S CHOICE, BEST OF 2015, Bridge Records),
and represents our musical heritage with the music from the Balkans (Balkan Project, Cedile Records 2010) and Spain (Sephardic Journey, Cedille records 2016).
History
The Cavatina Duo - Eugenia Moliner, flute (Spain) and Denis Azabagic, guitar (Bosnia)—has become one of the most impressive combinations of its kind in the world. Critics are raving:
“Style, sympathy, and technical aplomb . . . it's doubtful that the Cavatina's sophisticated and artistic playing could be surpassed.” —Fanfare
Dedicated soloists and chamber musicians, the Cavatina Duo breaks convention with their combination of instruments. Since their first concert in 1998, the Cavatina Duo has captivated audiences with their electrifying performances in such major venues and festivals as Ravinia’s Raising Stars series (Chicago), Da Camera Society (Los Angeles), Aix-en-Provence Summer Festival (France), the National Concert Hall of Taipei (Taiwan), National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing (China), National Flute Convention Gala Concert (USA), the Harris Theater (Chicago), Kolkata International Guitar Festival (India), Foundation Principe Felipe and Palau de la Musica (Spain),…etc
The duo has compiled a substantial number of recordings on the Spanish and North American labels Opera Tres, Cedille, Bridge and Orobroy Records.
Denis Azabagic and Eugenia Moliner are Artists-Faculty at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and teaching associates at the University of Illinois at Chicago, UIC.
Artistic Vision
For “The Balkan Project” (Cedille 2010) Cavatina Duo commissioned new works from nine composers and chose music from the Balkans as the inspiration for this album, reflecting Azabagic's heritage.
Their following release was “Cavatina Duo Plays Astor Piazzolla” (Bridge 2010). This time they commissioned Grammy winner Sérgio Assad and his daughter Clarice, to arrange/compose Piazzolla’s music for this combination of instruments.
"Sephardic Journey" (Cedille 2016), consists of new commissions of works based on Sephardic melodies from five leading composers. The world premiere was held at the Ravinia Festival with the renowned Avalon Quartet in March 2016.
In 2017 Cavatina Duo duo together with the soprano Patrice Michaels collaborated with composer Laurie Altman and multi Grammy winner producer Judy Sherman, on the release of a CD "Sonic Migrations" for the German Record company NEOS.
Their latest album “Folias and Fantasias”, released in 2020 by Bridge Records was named Critic’s Choice 2020, by American Record Guide.
Upcoming recording project include a new release with Cedille Records inspired by Gypsy music from around the world, premiering works by Stacy Garrop, Sergio Assad, Matthew Dunn, Clarice Assad and Atanas Ourkouzounov.
Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise
We are often engaged by the music presenters to conduct an outreach performances in the local schools where we perform the evening concert. The program that we present in the schools, is a shorter version of our regular evening program, and as such is allows us to present the students with the overview of the music and engage in conversation about it. Our key points in the conversation during these outreaches, focuses on art, music, dedication to practice, discipline, and the use of music as a universal language that allows musicians to communicate with each other on extremally intimate level. We also are focused on teaching the students on how to listen the music, how to hone their senses and bring them to the surface, how to "open up" and share their thoughts and feelings with each other. Q&A portion of these outreaches are also part of it, allowing students to ask us anything that comes to their mind, and it is quite extraordinary to hear some of the most amazing questions students can come up with. This has become very important aspect of our work, educating new generation in music appreciation!
Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement
We do not consider our group as a traditional folk or ethnic artistic group, but we do represent a folk and ethnic music in our program, as described in artistic vision of our work segment above.
Name
Cavatina Duo
Type
Company/Ensemble
Address
1031 Bonnie Brae
River Forest, Illinois 60305
Contact Person
Denis Azabagic
[email protected]
708.668.5269
Web Site
Artistic Discipline(s)
Music
- Classical
Geographic Availability
Central Illinois
Chicago/Chicagoland
Northern Illinois
Southern Illinois
Western Illinois
Fee Ranges
$1500-$3000
Additional Services
Lectures
Master classes
Residencies
Workshops
Core Audience(s)
Bilingual
- Spanish