Online Recital: Duo Fabulae
– viola and piano

The Programme

Recorded live at St Bride’s on Friday 21st July.

Lorena Cantó – viola
Yvain Calvo – piano

Flow, my tears

If my complaints could passions move

Lachrymae for viola and piano, Op 48

‘Pensiero’ for viola and piano, H 53

from the Cello sonata, H 125
I. Allegro ben moderato

The Artists

Duo Fabulae is a viola and piano duo formed by Guildhall School of Music & Drama alumni Lorena Cantó and Yvain Calvo. Since their start in 2020, they have aimed to connect with new audiences through programming music with a strong focus on storytelling and playing in non-conventional music settings. Besides this, they enjoy performing throughout the UK and Europe, including in venues such as Wigmore Hall, Barbican Centre, Milton Court, Konzerthaus Berlin and Palau de la Música in Valencia.

Achievements include First Prize at the Lugano International Music Competition and the Charleston International Music Competition (USA) in 2022; Second Prize at the String Competition from Poland; Third Prize at the Birmingham International Music Competition and Diploma of Honor with special mention at the Gran Premi L’Auredia from Andorra in 2023. In 2022, Duo Fabulae was awarded the Guildhall School of Music & Drama Futures Fund for their collaboration with filmmaker Radu Rojas in an interdisciplinary project on the cello sonata by English composer and violist Frank Bridge. In October 2022, Duo Fabulae made an appearance on Spanish National Radio (RTVE), Andante con Moto. In 2020, the ensemble launched an online concert series at the Sands Films Studio in London, aiming to bring classical music to people’s homes in times of global pandemic.

Throughout their career they have had the privilege of studying with renowned artists including Peter Bithell, David Dolan, Boris Kucharsky, John Myerscough, Caroline Palmer, Günter Pichler, Lawrence Power, Reiner Schmidt and Barbara Westphal. Between 2021 and 2022, the duo has taken part in the ChamberStudio Mentorship Programme at King’s Place under the tutelage of Professor Ian Brown and Richard Ireland.

Since 2018, Lorena has been playing a viola by Peter Greiner, kindly loaned by the Stradivari Trust.