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the louth contemporary music society is one of the most influential and forward-thinking music organisations in ireland, presenting concerts and festivals highlighting the music of some of the world's greatest living composers, commissioning new works and at the same time offering performance opportunities to young irish and international performers. since ioana's first performances of arvo pärt's works for the louth contemporary music society in february 2008 with the composer himself in attendance, she has maintained strong relations with the society leading to her sharing the stage with philip glass in july and performing sir john tavener's dhyana as soloist with the ulster orchestra in october.
'...the evening opened with glass taking a side seat to enjoy a bravura performance by romanian violinist ioana petcu colan of the technically imposing 'knee play #2'. and she was even more captivating when subsequently duetting with the maestro himself, demonstrating a deep connection...'
sophie gorman, the irish independent on the performance with philip glass
meanwhile the irish times wrote of the arvo pärt performance that :
'...every phrase, every curve, every caress, every outburst, was shown as if it were the most treasurable of precious stones....in the terrifyingly exposed challenges that pärt provides for violinists, petcu-colan even managed to capture the spirit of an earlier era of virtuoso writing while remaining true to the spirit of the music....'
'...the dynamism and sensitive colouring these players bring to the beethoven is in the front rank of modern versions on disc...'
classical music magazine
early this year, ensemble avalon spent a few days in st. peter's church in drogheda recording their debut cd of beethoven, bax and bernstein with producer jonathan allen of emi. the cd is now on general release on the lyric label to critical acclaim, just in time to highlight the avalon winter chamber festival in association with music for wexford taking place at the end of november.
click on the image of the cd on the right to buy the disc and visit www.ensembleavalon.net for news of the trio and www.myspace.com/ensembleavalon for up-to-date concert and programme information.
ioana is delighted to have been invited to edit a universal edition publication of accessible solo violin pieces by eminent contemporary composers. featuring specially written and arranged short works by arvo pärt, ennio morricone and others, the publication is intended primarily for younger players and those new to contemporary music and is the latest in a successful project already encompassing similar publications for piano and for flute.
lunfardia's debut cd picada pa'cinco was released in march amid much hype and excitement. officially launched in the sugar club in dublin on march 19th, the cd has already enjoyed extensive airplay and is available to buy from the lunfardia website. the accompanying national tour took place on either side of the sugar club date covering the length and breadth of the country in venues from cork to belfast.
to buy the cd, listen to clips and see what lunfardia's up to, visit the official site at www.lunfardia.com, also www.myspace.com/lunfardia
" ...a valuable addition to the limited solo violin repertoire..." (irish examiner)
ronan is a "renowned jazz bassist and composer with a deliciously free understanding of rhythm and wonderful improvisatory gifts" (irish examiner) whom ioana first met through working towards a collaborative performance of ronan's own composition. a mutual friendship and respect quickly developed which led ioana to approach ronan to write a solo violin work.
the world premiere took place in the triskel arts centre in cork with a programme which also featured eimear foristal o'grady performing her own poetry before joining ioana in a rendition of ferdinand the bull for violin and narrator. subsequent performances took place while on tour in japan in late october and early november 2007 with the most recent performances in the hugh lane gallery, dublin, during which ioana was also joined by izumi kimura for the world premiere of ronan's violin and piano sonata no. 2, and in london during a solo violin recital.
most recently, ioana spent a few days with ronan, jazz guitarist john abercrombie and others in the studio recording renaissance man - a septet written by ronan for string quartet, bass, drums and guitar. ioana's next performance of ronan guilfoyle's work will be the world premiere of a little blues during the avalon winter chamber festival in wexford on the 28th of november - a little blues was commissioned by ensemble avalon specially for the festival with generous funds from the arts council of ireland.