One of Ireland’s foremost classical music partnership, DUO CHAGALL came into being in 1990 when two music students at the Guildhall School of Music, London, decided to sight-read Kodaly’s great Duo op.7.

Dublin-born violinist Gillian Williams and French cellist Arun Rao have since then brought this most demanding combination to audiences throughout Ireland. Their shared passion for sound and constant striving for musical integrity, allied to an impeccable command of famously challenging music, have earned DUO CHAGALL public and critical acclaim.

Along with twentieth-century works by Ravel, Kodaly, Martinu, Honegger and Gliere, DUO CHAGALL have programmed the rarely performed Duets for violin and viola by Mozart, in a transcription for cello that is virtually unchanged from the original viola part. They have also contributed to the Duo repertoire with their 2000 and 2001 World-Premieres of works by Irish composers Raymond Deane (“Pentacle”) and Rhona Clarke (“Jagged Edge”), the former written at their behest (with Arts Council funding).

Though mostly appearing as solo duet, DUO CHAGALL has featured in concertante repertoire by Brahms, Delius and Mozart (Sinfonia Concertante K.364, the original viola part being played on cello), and performs regularly in collaboration with distinguished international artists. DUO CHAGALL has recently recorded works by Ravel, Milhaud and the celebrated Passacaille adapted by Johan Halvorsen from Haendel’s Harpsichord Suite (released in June 2009). The Duo was invited to host a Concert Series in Pezenas (South of France) in July 2009; a second Series in 2010 will include a recital for solo strings and organ. In addition to their activities as solo and chamber music performers, Ms Williams and Mr Rao are committed to music education in Dublin and have been members of staff at the DIT Conservatoire since 1994.

Sample Programmes

Mozart: Duet in G major K. 423, originally for violin and viola

Matyas Seiber: Sonata da Camera for violin and cello (1945)

Reviews

"The husband-and-wife duo of violinist Gillian Williams and cellist Arun Rao took turns to partner pianist Elisaveta Blumina in performances that were sure-footed and driven by a suitably romantic emotional energy ... Williams brought out enough warmth in the Op. 100 Sonata—possibly Brahms's only instrumental work that borrows from songs he wrote—to hint at the likely love-story sub-text. Rao delivered a monumental finish with the slow, inexorable crescendo of the E minor Cello Sonata's fugal finale"

The Irish Times

More Info

For further information on availability or artist fees or to discuss a booking please contact the Performance Programme Manager by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or telephone: 01 6719429.