The Rodin Trio, one of the young groups with the most projection in the chamber music scene, was born in 2011 in the city of Utrecht (Holland) with the desire to forge a common project from three different personalities. Critically acclaimed for their expressive power and their communicative performances with the public, the Rodin Trio is unanimously awarded first prize in the “XI Montserrat Alavedra Chamber Music Contest” (Terrassa, Spain). In addition, they receive the prestigious “Storiani Festival Prijs” from the members of the Trio Storioni themselves, as well as the Audience Award at the “Who’s next?, International Competition”, both held in the Netherlands. On the other hand, they are also awarded in different national and international competitions. His repertoire covers a very extensive range of styles, from Classicism to the most current music. This interest in the music of our days has led them to be the recipients of several newly created works by young promises, premiering them thanks to the “Call for composers” project. In addition to receiving advice from great personalities, they have worked together with the Trio di Parma at the “Scuola Superiore Internazionale di musica da camera del Trio di Trieste” in Duino, Italy. Regarding its concert activity, the Rodin Trio has performed in some of the most prestigious auditoriums in Europe (“Concertgebouw” in Amsterdam, National Auditorium in Madrid, Palau de la Música in Barcelona and Valencia), and in the most recognized Festivals such as the “Grachtenfestival” (Amsterdam), “Monteleón Chamber Music Festival” (Spain), “Kilkenny Music Festival” (Ireland), “Gaudeamus Muziekweek” (Utrecht). His music has been broadcast by “Radio Nacional de España” (RNE), “Catalunya Música”, “Radio4” (Holland), “France Musique” (France), “WDR” (Germany), as well as by “RAI”. italian. His recording debut with the Italian label OnClassical (“Enrique Granados: Chamber music with piano”), has been a brilliant success with excellent reviews, receiving the Gold Medal at the “Global Music Awards” in the United States, as well as appearing among the 5 best record proposals of the year. It has also been selected by the record company “NAXOS” as one of the most attractive albums, and nominated for the “Enderrock Awards” for best Classical Music album. They have recently been selected as the only chamber music group within the prestigious “Circuitos FestClásica”.

The Latin term “memento” means “remembrance.” There are many Spanish composers who enjoy great fame and recognition, such as Albéniz, Falla, Granados, Turina,… But today we want to take a trip back in time to rediscover and remember other great composers who left a legacy of incalculable value, but who they were not lucky that their works endured over time. Enrique Granados, one of the best and most well-known Spanish composers of all time, wrote these Spanish Dances in his youth, and they constitute a great contribution to the Spanish nationalist music of the s. XIX. The Oriental is a slow dance full of lyricism where the left hand draws a heartfelt accompaniment, while the right sings the main melancholic melody. La Andaluza, the best known of all, has a certain flamenco atmosphere due to the fact that the left hand makes a kind of dotted pattern reminiscent of strumming the guitar. Granados composed his Piano trio op. 50 in 1895 after studying in Paris for several years. It is a work full of freshness, fantasy, purity and luminosity, with numerous elements of French influence. In the first movement, the imitative game between the three instruments and the wide and generous melodic lines stand out. The Scherzo breathes dance airs and plays with the pizzicatti of the strings and the staccatti of the piano, giving special relevance to the rhythmic content; in a second section, the air of popular music takes center stage with a brilliant imitation of the bagpipe’s snare, which precedes an interlude where the piano plays with a Moorish air that prepares a finale full of rhythm and sympathy. In contrast, the Duetto is the most intimate and sentimental part of the work, featuring a dialogue between violin and cello. Finally, the dance and the popular elements return to the score in a brilliant finale that demands a great understanding of the performers. Despite the fact that Trio No. 1 op. 3 is one of the first works by Lluís Benejam, it is a mature score, of considerable dimensions and great intensity. His long experience as a violinist in chamber and symphonic ensembles allowed him to start a career as a composer – now over 35 years old – without going through “youthful works”. The work is structured in four movements and presents an optimistic and romantic general character. Francesc Civil, a composer trained at the Escolania de Montserrat and at the prestigious “Schola Cantorum” in Paris, was a great figure in the field of sardanístic composition, but he also left us a great legacy in other genres. As a pianist, he was part of a trio for which he surely wrote this wonderful and captivating “Piano Trio” that we will listen to today. It is a work full of lyricism, poetry and beauty, although it is also full of enthusiasm and joy, especially in the last movement, a sardana.

Spanish original text:

El Trío Rodin, uno de los grupos jóvenes con más proyección en el panorama musical camerístico, nace en 2011 en la ciudad de Utrecht (Holanda) con el deseo de forjar un proyecto común a partir de tres personalidades distintas. Aclamados por la crítica por su fuerza expresiva y sus interpretaciones comunicativas con el público, el Trío Rodin es galardonado por unanimidad con el primer premio en el “XI Concurso de Música de Cámara Montserrat Alavedra” (Terrassa, España). Además, reciben de manos de los propios miembros del Trio Storioni el prestigioso “Storioni Festival Prijs”, así como el Premio del Público en el “Who´s next?, International Competition”, ambos celebrados en Holanda. Por otro lado, también son premiados en distintos certámenes nacionales e internacionales. Su repertorio abarca un abanico de estilos muy extenso, desde el Clasicismo hasta la música más actual. Este interés por la música de nuestros días les ha llevado a ser los destinatarios de varias obras de nueva creación por parte de jóvenes promesas, estrenándolas gracias al proyecto “Call for composers”. Además de recibir consejos de grandes personalidades, han trabajado junto al Trio di Parma en la “Scuola Superiore Internazionale di musica da camera del Trio di Trieste” en Duino, Italia. En cuanto a su actividad concertística, el Trío Rodin ha actuado en algunos de los auditorios más prestigiosos de Europa (“Concertgebouw” de Ámsterdam, Auditorio Nacional de Madrid, Palau de la Música de Barcelona y Valencia), y en los Festivales más reconocidos como el “Grachtenfestival” (Ámsterdam), “Festival de Música de Cámara Monteleón” (España), “Festival de Música de Kilkenny” (Irlanda), “Gaudeamus Muziekweek” (Utrecht). Su música ha sido retransmitida por “Radio Nacional de España” (RNE), “Catalunya Música”, “Radio4” (Holanda), “France Musique” (Francia), “WDR” (Alemania), así como por la “RAI” italiana. Su debut discográfico con el sello italiano OnClassical (“Enrique Granados: Chamber music with piano”), ha tenido un éxito fulgurante con excelentes críticas, recibiendo la Medalla de Oro en los “Global Music Awards” de Estados Unidos, además de figurar entre las 5 mejores propuestas discográficas del año. También ha sido seleccionado por la casa discográfica “NAXOS” como uno de los discos más atractivos, y nominado a los “Premios Enderrock” como mejor disco de Música Clásica. Recientemente han sido seleccionados como único grupo de música de cámara dentro los prestigiosos “Circuitos FestClásica”.

El término latino “memento” significa “recuerdo”. Son muchos los compositores españoles que gozan de una gran fama y reconocimiento, como Albéniz, Falla, Granados, Turina,… Pero hoy queremos hacer un viaje al pasado para redescubrir y recordar otros grandes compositores que dejaron un legado de un valor incalculable, pero que no tuvieron la suerte de que sus obras perdurasen en el tiempo. Enrique Granados, uno de los mejores y más conocidos compositores españoles de todos los tiempos, escribió estas Danzas Españolas en su época de juventud, y constituyen una gran aportación a la música nacionalista española del s. XIX. La Oriental, es una danza lenta llena de lirismo donde la mano izquierda dibuja un sentido acompañamiento, mientras que la derecha entona la melancólica melodía principal. La Andaluza, la más conocida de todas, tiene cierto clima flamenco debido a que la mano izquierda hace una especie de punteado que recuerda el rasgueo de la guitarra. Granados compuso su Piano trio op. 50 en 1895 tras estudiar en París durante varios años. Es una obra llena de frescura, fantasía, pureza y luminosidad, con numerosos elementos de influencia francesa. En el primer movimiento destaca el juego imitativo entre los tres instrumentos y las líneas melódicas amplias y generosas. El Scherzo respira aires de danza y juega con los pizzicatti de la cuerda y los staccatti del piano dando especial relevancia al contenido rítmico; en una segunda sección, el aire de música popular toma protagonismo con una brillante imitación del bordón de la gaita, que precede a un interludio donde el piano juega con un aire morisco que prepara un final lleno de ritmo y simpatía. En contraste, el Duetto es la parte más íntima y sentimental de la obra, protagonizada por un diálogo entre el violín y el violonchelo. Finalmente, la danza y los elementos populares vuelven a la partitura en un final brillante que exige una gran compenetración de los intérpretes . A pesar de que el Trío nº 1 op. 3 es una de las primeras obras de Lluís Benejam, se trata de una partitura madura, de dimensiones considerables y de gran intensidad. Su larga experiencia como violinista en formaciones de cámara y sinfónicas le permitió comenzar una carrera como compositor -ya con más de 35 años – sin pasar por las «obras de juventud». La obra se estructura en cuatro movimientos y presenta un carácter general optimista y romántico. Francesc Civil, compositor formado en la Escolanía de Montserrat y en la prestigiosa “Schola Cantorum” de París, fue una gran figura en el campo de la composición sardanística, pero también nos dejó un gran legado en otros géneros. Como pianista, formó parte de un trío para el que seguramente escribió este maravilloso y cautivador “Trio con piano” que hoy escucharemos. Es una obra llena de lirismo, poesía y belleza, aunque también cargada de entusiasmo y alegría, sobretodo en el último movimiento, una sardana.

Momentos de Música is honored to introduce Wouter Harbers and The Bach Quartet at the 19th and 20th of November 2016. These five highly qualified Dutch musicians perform a varied program of Bach and Chopin. The performance might remind you of the the previous Momentos de Música event with Daniel Wayenberg & Martin Oeiwhere where they performed the second Piano Concert of Chopin and the second of Rachmaninov on two grand pianos.

Wouter Harbers.

Wouter Harbers is a sought-after pianist who has many successful private concert series and recorded his first solo album ‘Romance’ with L’Orchestra Particolare, in 2015. His mission is “to make piano music accessible to a wide audience.”

Wouter has a broad musical interest: apart from piano, he started playing the organ at young age, and when he was 19 years old he conducted Handel’s Messiah. Since 2005, he plays the piano and in 2008, during a CD recording and tour with Schubert’s Schwanengesang, he accompanied baritone Kees van Bochove on the wing. In 2011 he won the EMG competition as a pianist: after which he rapidly developed his career. He performed for 2000 adults in the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht, for 1800 adults in the Word Forum at The Hague and he performed for several ministers and the Prime Minister Mark Rutte. In 2013 he debuted on Radio and TV. He also performed several piano concerts with Orchestras (4th Beethoven’s and Chopin’s First).

His teachers were: Bernhard Principal Choral Conducting), Arend-Jan van de Kettelarij, Dick Sand Erman and Peter Eilander (organ). Wouter also attended master classes with Gerard de Wit and Wibi Soerjadi.

In addition to his appearances as a pianist, Wouter is an active choir accompanist and soloist, being a music director of two choirs (Vocal Emsamble Lobet den Herrn to Bode Questions and Kerkkoor Driebergen), a coach of the Thomas Ensamle in Zeist, a pianist in three churches, a jury member of the NPC competition and a piano teacher.

Upcoming season, a new CD recording of Chopin’s First Piano Concert is planned with the professional Ars Música Orchestra. As Ab Nieuwdorp, presenter Music at the table, ‘Radio 4’ stated: “… A new star in the firmament piano!”

The Bach Quartet

Robert Cekov

In the former Yugoslavia, Robert Cekov won the first and third prize in two state competitions for young violists. In 1989 he finished his conservatory studies in Novi Sad with Ilya Grubert. In the years of 1985-1990 he gave many recitals with piano accompaniment at various music festivals in Belgrade, Skopje and Novi Sad.  In 1996 he obtained a performing musician diploma under guidance of Olga Martinova at the Rotterdam Conservatory, the Netherlands. Since 1990 he works as the first violinist with tutti Dutch Ballet Orchestra (now Ballet Orchestra) in Amsterdam. He performs regularly as a soloist with the Orchestra Macedonish Philharmonic and plays chamber music with different ensembles. Cekov alos plays with the famous pianist Jan Mulder, who was concertmaster of the orchestra the Mulder Consort, Ichtus String Quartet, Holland Symfonia quintet. Furthermore, he plays regularly with world quartet Souvenir, and performs with several world music ensembles. Cekov worked as a soloist on numerous recordings including the piano album ‘Romance’ of pianist Wouter Harbers.

Joel Waterman 

Joel Waterman (violist) received his first violin lessons from his father and continued his violin studies with Coosje Wijzenbeek in Hilversum. At the age of sixteen, he switched to the viola, and studied with Marjolein Dispa at the Conservatorium in Amsterdam, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2002. He also studied at the University of Bloomington, Indiana with Rostislav Dubinsky. In Bloomington he received the Kreisler Award.

Since 1995, Joel is a substitute with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and a guest leader at the Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra, the Radio Chamber Philharmonic and Amsterdam Sinfonietta. He is very active in chamber music, and has played with musicians such as Janine Jansen, Liza Ferschtman, Paolo Giacometti and Rian de Waal. Furthermore, he is co-founder of the ensemble Cameleon and since 2008 violist of the Utrecht String Quartet.

Evelien Prakke

Evelien Prakke studied with Dmitri Ferschtman in Amsterdam, and was a guest student in Bloomington together with Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. During her studies she was a member of the EUYO and played violin conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini. Currently, Evelien works as a guest solo cellist with the Orquesta de la Ciudad de Granada. Evelien is also a deputy solo cellist with The Holland Symfonia and works freelance at Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Dutch Chamber Orchestra. Her love for chamber music brought her into contact with musicians with whom she performed at festivals in Sicily, Italy, Switzerland, England, France and Japan. This summer, Evelien plays in different chamber music ensembles at the Klankkleur Festival, Peter the Great Festival, Grachten Festival Amsterdam (with the Alma Trio) and the Stift Festival.

Hebe Mensinga

Hebe Mensinga (1972) has been concertmaster of the Holland Symfonia Quintet, where they played with violinists Emmy Verheij, Philippe Graffin and Herman Krebbers. Hebe started with violin lessons at the age of eight with Coosje Wijzenbeek. After this, she studied with Wiktor Liberman at the School of Arts in Utrecht where she graduated cum laude in 1998. Hebe also studied with Yfrah Neaman in London and with Peter Matzka in Cologne and she participated in master classes with Herman Krebbers, Menahem Pressler, Rostropovich and Joseph Gingold.

Furthermore, Hebe is regularly guest concertmaster with orchestras such as the Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Hebe played solo with orchestras such as Amsterdam Sinfonietta, the Esterhazy Orchestra and the Helsinki Philharmonic Radio. In 2008, the Ulster Orchestrain Belfast invited her to perform the, specially written for her, violin concerto by Klaas de Vries. Hebe Mensinga has teamed with violinists as Emmy Verheij, Philippe Graffin and Herman Krebbers. With the latter she performed the Bach double concerto in the ConcertgebouwnAmsterdam. From 2003 to 2008 she was the majoring teacher on the Conservatory of Zwolle. She played in various chamber music ensembles, including the Delos Ensemble, with which she made tours through Syria, Lebanon and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which won the Vriendenkrans’ Concertgebouw Prize. She regularly gives chamber music in various ensembles and plays a Jean Baptiste Vuillaume from 1867, made available by the National Music Fund.

Current information

For more information about the program and to order your tickets online, visit our event page.

For questions call +34 634 979 620 or email peter@momentosdemusica.es

Momentos de Música – contact: Peter Neeteson

Calle de Mila 15 – 17
03738 Xàbia / Jávea
+34 634 979 620

This month we are proud to welcome ‘Duo Aria’, this special duo consists of Lola Smolokowski (pianist) and Nadia Kashaeva (mezzo-soprano). Since the concert will take place inside of the beautiful Villa El Nido places are limited, which is why we chose to host two concerts in a row: on the 24th and the 25th of September. Some of you might remember Nadia’s wonderful performance last year, when Peter Neeteson accompanied her on the piano. This year she will perform in ‘Duo Aria’ and will be accompanied by Lola.

Lola Smolokowski

The video above shows footage of a performance Lola did in 2005, she played excerpts from Tchaikowsky Balets.

From an early age Lola was determined to learn Russian pianism, which is why she participated in various television kid talent shows and studied at the Gnessin Music Academy in Moscow.

When she turned 18 she moved to Europe to improve her skills even further. In those years she won awards in several competitions in France, Italy and Switzerland.

Performing with a symphonic orchestra is something she has always loved and during her years of studying at the Geneva Conservatory she found another passion: chamber music and accompaniment of vocalists.

Nadia Kashaeva

This performance is from Valentines day 2016, when Nadia performed love songs at the Javea Parador.

She is a multi-talented musician from Ukraine who performs musical, operetta, church music, baroque music and opera. In 2011 she received an honorary laureate at the “Vox Rotary”, a young opera singers competition in Lithuania, Latvia and Finland. She has a masters degree at the Lithuanian National Academy of Art and Music.

Her debut was in 2005, at the Klaipeda Music Theatre in the opera “The barber from Sevilla” from G. Rossini. Since then she has performed in numerous musicals, operas and operettas.

Concert information

To buy your tickets or for more information about the program, visit our event page.

An extraordinary group of top musicians are performing exclusively in Villa El Nido. We are proud to welcome Alexey Lundin, the first violinist of the Moscow Orchestra and Vsevolod Dvorkin on the piano, and the proud members of the Arteunita Ensemble from the Opera Orchestra of Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía Valencia; Iakov Zats (viola), Christopher Bouman (oboe), Yuri Golubev (doublebass) and Olga Kotchenkova (cello).

Plácido Domingo: “The quality of these musicians is exceptional. I am very enthusiastic about this group and I recommended them highly”

Here is an impression of an earlier concert at Villa El Nido.