Representing the Concordia Foundation
Programme
Handel – Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Obbligato Harpsichord in C
Britten – Lachrymae
Pärt – Spiegel im Spiegel
Piazolla – Le Grand Tango
Diphonon Duo
Michael Iskas Viola da Gamba
Iñigo Mikeleiz-Berrade Accordian
Performers
Diphonon Duo is a viola and accordion duo formed by the Greek viola player Michael Iskas and Iñigo Mikeleiz-Berrade, accordionist from Navarra (Spain).
Michael and Iñigo met in 2015 during their Masters of Arts studies at the Royal Academy of Music (London) and after discovering they share common musical interests, they decided to establish this ensemble.
The word “Diphonon” means in Greek “two voices”.
The combination of accordion and viola, bow and bellows, is an unusual duo, however the two instruments have more similarities than we think, since both are able to sustain sound for long time and vary its color and intensity.
The repertoire performed by Diphonon Duo reaches different styles and ages. From original works for the duo, to transcriptions of baroque and classical music. The duo involve the audience in journey through time and space, from the 17th century to the present day, and from distant countries such as Argentina, Denmark, Spain, the eastern Mediterranean Sea and Japan.
Diphonon Duo performs in various venues in London and the UK such as the Wigmore Hall, Royal Academy of Music or Colston Hall (Bristol).
During the course 2017-18 they were appointed as Wigmore Hall Learning Ensemble.
The duo has received coaching and guidance from eminent musicians such as accordionsts professor Owen Murray, Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi and Mie Miki and violists James Sleigh, Roger Chase and Garth Knox.