Dryads Duo

Performers

Notes on the performers

In 2010 violinist Carla Santos and pianist Saul Picado formed the Dryads Duo with the idea of exploring and bringing to the public lesser performed, but not less worthy of being presented, repertoire from the late 19th century to the present day.

In their recitals they aim to create a coherent combination between the less known and the standard repertoire providing the audience with a sense of ownership and freshness, always conveying their engaging sensibility, complicity and love for the music performed.

In 2011 the Dryads Duo was awarded the 1st prize at the “Prémio Jovens Músicos” competition in Portugal. This win gave them the opportunity to record their first CD (GDA) with Sonatas by Janáček, Ravel and Enescu.

In 2016 they released their second CD (KNS), entitled Intimate Colours. It is an important mark in the Duo’s career as it includes the piece that inspired the name for the Duo: “Dryads et Pan”. This is the name of Szymanowski’s third Myth, Op.30. Alongside these beautiful three Myths, the CD also includes Sonatas by Elgar and Respighi.

In 2017 the Dryads Duo developed a project called When Music Speaks, inviting five composers to write new pieces for the Duo. The idea was to create a dialogue between an already existing piece for violin and piano that each composer would choose as inspiration to write their own composition. One of these pieces, the Sonata by Pedro Faria Gomes, was recorded by the Duo and released in a CD (NAXOS) in 2020. For this CD, which features chamber music works by the same composer, Carla and Saul had the pleasure of also playing the violin and piano parts for the other works presented.

At present, the Dryads Duo are working on their most recent project: to perform all Beethoven’s piano and violin sonatas in 2027. This will be our tribute to the composer on the 200th anniversary of his death.

Programme

Programme notes

J. S. Bach

Sonata in C minor BWV 1017

1. Allegro in G major
2. Largo in E minor
3. Allegro in E minor
4. Adagio in B minor
5. Allegro in G major

The Sonata in C minor, BWV 1017, is the fourth of a set of six that Bach composed for violin and harpsichord in which he liberated the keyboard from the filler functions of continuo accompaniment, creating true partnership with the solo violin. The structure is that of the Italian sonata da chiesa, or church sonata – four movements, slow-fast-slow-fast. In the slow movements of this Sonata Bach gives the violin two of his great cantilenas, long lines spun out over broken chords in the right hand of the keyboard. The first is a Siciliano and one of Bach’s most famous melodies; the second a poised reflection in the relative major mode that serves as a prelude to the finale. The fast movements are basically abstract dances, in which the violin and keyboard swap material back and forth in buoyant counterpoint.

Source: LA Phil

Nikolai Kapustin (1937 – 2020)

Sonata Op. 70

1. Allegro
2. Andantino
3. Con moto

Nikolai Kapustin is regarded as pioneer of the Soviet jazz scene. In his music he combines typical jazz idioms with classical forms. The Sonata Op. 70 in three movements for violin and piano was written in 1992

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Sonata No 1 Op. 12

1. Allegro con brio
2. Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto
3. Rondo: Allegro

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 1 in D major is a violin sonata from his Op. 12 set, along with his Violin Sonata No. 2 and Violin Sonata No. 3. It was written in 1798 and dedicated to Antonio Salieri. Being an early work written around the period when Beethoven studied with Haydn, the sonata is for the most part written in a classical style much like that of Mozart or Haydn.

Source: Wikipedia